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70% of Seniors Show Cognitive Decline in Indian Study
4 Dec
Summary
- 70% of participants scored poorly on verbal fluency and recall tasks.
- Dementia awareness is limited, with only 40.6% familiar with the term.
- Most older adults prefer television and mobile phones over brain games.
A study conducted in villages in Chiplun and Ratnagiri, India, has highlighted a concerning prevalence of cognitive difficulties among older adults. The research found that 70 percent of participants struggled with tasks assessing verbal fluency and delayed recall, indicating significant memory and retrieval issues. This underscores a broader problem of limited awareness regarding dementia and neurocognitive disorders within the elderly community.
The study, involving 101 senior citizens aged 60 and above, revealed that only 40.6 percent were familiar with the term dementia. Furthermore, a vast majority of participants spent their leisure time on passive activities such as watching television or using mobile phones, with very few engaging in brain-stimulating games like chess or carrom. This lack of cognitive engagement is a significant factor affecting overall brain health.
Experts emphasize the urgent need for cognitive screening as a crucial step in dementia prevention efforts, even though the condition itself is irreversible. The findings point to a clear gap in public understanding and proactive measures for cognitive health among the elderly population in India. There is a call for increased sensitisation programs to foster awareness and social responsibility towards aging individuals.
