Research into Young Dementia Reflects Environment

Research performed by Bournemouth University has revealed that there has been a sharp rise in deaths due to dementia since the beginnings of the 21st Century; but now, the discovery has given leverage to the fact that the early onset of dementia cannot be passed off as being due to longer life spans.

Professor Colin Pritchard, who led the investigation, touched on the fact that that societal and environmental causes may be key to what he calls an “epidemic” of dementia.

The UK has one of the highest increases of neurological deaths from between 1979 to 2010 according to the World Health Organisation, which suggests a daunting implication on the living conditions of those living within its borders.

Prichard commented that ‘[This rise] cannot be genetic because the period is too short.

‘Whilst there will be some influence of more elderly people, it does not account for the earlier onset; the differences between countries nor the fact that more women have been affected, as their lives have changed more than men’s over the period.’

What the research uncovered was that the increase of early onsets of dementia increased in in men up 32 per cent and women up 48 per cent that represents a rise from 4,500 deaths to an uncomfortable 6,500. On a global scale, the risks of dementia have risen in 16 countries, of which Pritchard baptises as an “epidemic” of dementia.

His concerns stand alongside the fact that people are developing dementia at younger ages, of which he believes society and the environment that it is surrounded by is held accountable. The increased number of charities such as The Young Parkinson’s Society and Young Dementia UK are legacies to this statement.

‘These statistics are about real people and families, and we need to recognise that there is an ‘epidemic’ that clearly is influenced by environmental and societal changes.”

‘Considering the changes over the last 30 years – the explosion in electronic devices, rises in background non-ionising radiation – PCs, microwaves, TVs, mobile phones; road and air transport up four-fold increasing background petro-chemical pollution; chemical additives to food, etcetera,’ Professor Pritchard said.

‘There is no one factor rather the likely interaction between all these environmental triggers, reflecting changes in other conditions.’

Categories: alzheimers, Dementia, environment, Parkinsons

Fashion Student Designs Bag for Parkinson’s Patients

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a disorder of the central nervous system that seriously affects your motor movement wellness. After seeing her father battle with the disease for years, 21-year-old Vidhi Bhargav, a final year student of fashion communication at Symbiosis Institute of Design, didn’t think twice when it came to her subject for her final year project; a user-friendly bag for those whose wellbeing is affected by PD.

Vidhi deliberated for days and met neurologists and social workers, besides building on her own life’s experiences with her father, before creating a ‘miniature sling bag’ designed specially for Parkinson’s patients. She presented her bag, called the ‘Nazaria’ collection, last week to 80 patients at a special event organised by Parkinson’s Mitra Mandal at Kesari Wada in the city.

According to Vidhi, ‘The design, though simple, is very effective for Parkinson’s patients. PD is a problem when a person’s movements get affected. Their movements are slow and gait awkward. They may suddenly become stiff and need medicine to normalise. The bag I designed is a sling bag since PD patients require their hands to be free to hold on for support as they might stumble due to their gait.’

The material of the bag is extremely light and does not add burden or affect posture. Vidhi added, ‘The bag has compartments to hold a mobile, medicine and a bottle of water. In this miniature size, bags with these specially designed compartments are not available. But a patient may suddenly require medicine and water, which is important to have at all times. Also the bag has no buttons, but a velcro as once a patient gets stiff, he may have difficulty in dealing with buttons.’

Neurologist Dr Rajas Deshpande commented, ‘I was initially wondering what kind of ‘fashion’ product could help Parkinson’s patients, but this idea is fantastic and a much-needed product. The attention to details is good.’ Vidhi attributes the bag’s success to her father, whose resilience and grit in fighting PD was an inspiration. ‘I wanted this collection to be a tribute to my father, my hero and inspiration through the lessons I learnt from his life. I hope this small design input can help make lives a little easier for other patients,’ she said.

Fashion Student Designs Bag for Parkinson’s Patients

Categories: Bag, fashion, father, final year, parkinson, Parkinsons, Patients, sling bag, vidhi, year

Fashion Student Designs Bag for Parkinson’s Patients

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a disorder of the central nervous system that seriously affects your motor movement wellness. After seeing her father battle with the disease for years, 21-year-old Vidhi Bhargav, a final year student of fashion communication at Symbiosis Institute of Design, didn’t think twice when it came to her subject for her final year project; a user-friendly bag for those whose wellbeing is affected by PD.

Vidhi deliberated for days and met neurologists and social workers, besides building on her own life’s experiences with her father, before creating a ‘miniature sling bag’ designed specially for Parkinson’s patients. She presented her bag, called the ‘Nazaria’ collection, last week to 80 patients at a special event organised by Parkinson’s Mitra Mandal at Kesari Wada in the city.

According to Vidhi, ‘The design, though simple, is very effective for Parkinson’s patients. PD is a problem when a person’s movements get affected. Their movements are slow and gait awkward. They may suddenly become stiff and need medicine to normalise. The bag I designed is a sling bag since PD patients require their hands to be free to hold on for support as they might stumble due to their gait.’

The material of the bag is extremely light and does not add burden or affect posture. Vidhi added, ‘The bag has compartments to hold a mobile, medicine and a bottle of water. In this miniature size, bags with these specially designed compartments are not available. But a patient may suddenly require medicine and water, which is important to have at all times. Also the bag has no buttons, but a velcro as once a patient gets stiff, he may have difficulty in dealing with buttons.’

Neurologist Dr Rajas Deshpande commented, ‘I was initially wondering what kind of ‘fashion’ product could help Parkinson’s patients, but this idea is fantastic and a much-needed product. The attention to details is good.’ Vidhi attributes the bag’s success to her father, whose resilience and grit in fighting PD was an inspiration. ‘I wanted this collection to be a tribute to my father, my hero and inspiration through the lessons I learnt from his life. I hope this small design input can help make lives a little easier for other patients,’ she said.

Fashion Student Designs Bag for Parkinson’s Patients

Categories: Bag, fashion, father, final year, parkinson, Parkinsons, Patients, sling bag, vidhi, year