Dementia cases to nearly triple by 2050 - report

PARIS, France - The number of people with dementia worldwide will nearly triple from 47 million today to 132 million in 2050, a report said Tuesday.

Dementia is an umbrella term for degenerative diseases of the brain characterised by a gradual decline in the ability to think and remember.

Accounting for well over half of cases, Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia.

As the world gets older, the number of people with dementia is set to increase exponentially, notes the World Alzheimer Report 2015, produced by Alzheimer's Disease International.

Today there are 900 million people 60 or older. Over the next 35 years, that age group will grow by 65 percent in rich countries, 185 percent in lower-middle income nations, and 239 percent in poor countries.

In 2015 alone, there will be about 10 million new cases, one every few seconds and nearly 30 percent more than in 2010.

The risk increases dramatically as we age.

Fewer than four out of every 1,000 people aged 60 to 64 are afflicted with some form of what used to be called senility. But from the age of 90, that ratio jumps to 105 for every 1,000 people, more than 10 percent.

The global cost burden of dementia is likewise increasing sharply, having risen by more than 35 percent over the last five years to $818 billion (709 billion euros) in 2015.

Sixty percent of the cost was for medical and institutional care.

"Population ageing alone drives the projected increases," said the report.

source: interaksyon.com

Dengue cases on the rise in Brunei due to rainy season

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN - The Ministry of Health (MoH) has reminded the public to be wary of mosquito-borne diseases, especially during the current rainy season, as the reported number of dengue cases was on the rise in Brunei.

The MoH, in a statement released on Sunday, said that in 2012, a total of 290 cases of dengue fever were recorded while for this year, a total of 349 cases have been reported up to Oct. 12.

Mosquitoes are vectors for diseases such as dengue fever, malaria, chikungunya, filiriasis and Japanese encephalitis, the MoH said.

A similar increase has been reported in other countries in the region and it was found to be associated with a higher volume of rainfall that caused increasing occurrence of water stagnation where mosquitoes breed rapidly.

The public is advised to take on a number of preventative measures, including wiping out mosquito breeding sites and seeking medical treatment when showing any listed symptoms.

Mosquitoes are known to breed in pools of stagnant water in places such as flower vases, clogged drains, plastic bottles and used tires, among others.

Most of the dengue fever cases in Brunei Darussalam were reported in the Brunei-Muara District, with only a small number in the other districts.

source: interaksyon.com

WANT TO SAVE LIVES? Promote handwashing with soap to cut 1,400 child deaths daily - UN

NEW YORK -- Millions of children Tuesday took part in the sixth annual United Nations-backed Global Handwashing Day, driving home the message that the simple use of soap and water could slash highly preventable diarrheal diseases that kill 1,400 children under five every day.

“Washing hands before eating and after defecation drastically reduces the spread of diarrheal disease and has far reaching effects on the health and welfare of children and communities,” the global head of the UN's Children’s Fund (Unicef) Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (Wash) programs, Sanjay Wijesekera, said in a message marking the Day, whose theme this year is "The Power Is in our Hands."

“The simple act of handwashing with soap is one of the most effective ways to save children’s lives.”

In Ethiopia, some five million children participated in handwashing demonstrations and workshops around the country.

In Yemen, Global Handwashing Day celebrations took place in 3,300 schools, involving 1.4 million children. There is also a mass media campaign aimed at sensitizing the public around handwashing.

At least 1,000 schools in Vietnam, 450 in Sierra Leone, 424 in Mali, 200 in 50 communities in Gambia, as well as 12 cities in Indonesia and 22 educational institutions in several municipalities in Bolivia held Global Hand Washing Day activities.

600,000 children die of diarrheal diseases every year

According to Unicef, diarrhea remains the second largest cause of under-five mortality globally. Some 600,000 children die each year from diarrheal diseases caused by a lack of safe water, sanitation, and basic hygiene out of a total of over 1.7 billion cases.

These diseases are also associated with a higher risk of stunting, as shown by low weight for age and developmental delay, and they take a huge toll on society. One of the simplest and most inexpensive barriers to infection is handwashing with soap.

“The evidence is clear. Each individual - every mother, every child, every teacher, every member of every community - can contribute to the health of all by just washing their hands,” Wijesekera said.

“If you knew of something monumental that could benefit the world, you would do it. Everyone has this power - simply wet, lather, and rinse with soap and water.

source: interaksyon.com

5 mental disorders have common gene problem - study

PARIS - Five major psychiatric disorders share a common problem in several faulty genes, according to the biggest study of its kind published on Thursday.

In the widest trawl yet of genetic mutations linked with mental disorders, US-led researchers looked through the DNA code of 33,332 people with autism, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder or schizophrenia.

Their genomes were matched against 27,888 "controls," or people who did not have these illnesses, in a bid to spot tiny changes in genes.

The five diseases have common risk factors in flaws on Chromosomes 2 and 10, and in two genes that help regulate the flow of calcium in brain cells, the investigators found.

One of the genes, called CACNA1C, has previously been fingered in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

The study, published in The Lancet, says the common genes are part of a much wider picture and do not by themselves explain the causes of these disorders or why their symptoms vary.

In addition, the gene samples examined by the Psychiatrics Genomics Consortium all came people from European ancestry, and the results may be different for people of different heritage, it said.

But, it added, the findings are a useful step towards better diagnosis of these illnesses.

Psychiatric disorders are difficult to categorise because symptoms can be hazy or contradictory, and little is known about their underlying cause. Environmental factors also play a part.

Previous genome comparisons have found intriguing common ground in an array of so-called auto-immune disorders, including arthritis, Crohn's disease, and psoriasis.

source: interaksyon.com

The health benefits of organic barley grass

MANILA, Philippines - As producer and manufacturer of nutritional products containing the best organic barley grass powder from New Zealand, Sante International Inc. carries on with its objective to provide high-quality goods and services while offering income-generating opportunities for Filipino households.

Established in 2008, Santé International uses only the best organic barley grass certified by Biogro, New Zealand’s leading organic certifier. 

Santé has introduced the exceptional properties of organic barley grass that has enhanced the well-being of its consumers as evidenced by testimonies of celebrities recovering from serious diseases, from parents of sickly children to ordinary people.

“Seeking helpful sources like barley in order to maintain our physical wellness need not be expensive, but also should be of good quality and effective for sharing to others,” said Jesus Joey Marcelo, chief executive officer of Santé International.

Dr. Yoshihide Hagiwara, a Japanese doctor, scientist, inventor, pharmacologist and entrepreneur, said, “Barley grass is the only vegetation on earth that can supply nutritional support from birth to old age.”

With over 200 plant species researched in 13 years, Hagiwara found that barley grass is the most excellent source of nutrients the body needs for growth, repair and well being.

Barley is also recognized as the most nutritious of all plant foods, a total health food that boosts the proper functioning of organs and the immune system since it contains essential vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes plus chlorophyll, phytonutrients, and phytochemicals.

To cater to the growing needs of the health conscious, Santé International offers several products that underwent a meticulous and patented process where important vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and amino acids are preserved.

Grown in the rich Canterbury plains of New Zealand, Santé Pure Barley New Zealand is blended with nature’s most potent sweetener, Stevia, and has soluble fiber that completely dissolves in cold water without sedimentation.

Santé Pure Barley also lowers bad cholesterol levels and blood pressure and reduces the risk of heart disease and is a powerful source of antioxidants that may prevent cancer.

Santé Pure Barley New Zealand helps people who are constipated, has slow metabolism and a weak immune system. Its high fiber content promotes regular bowel movement and acts as detoxifier that removes heavy toxic elements in the body.

Packed in blister strips of 10 vegetable capsules, it is rich in chlorophyll, a deodorizer that helps control bad breath, urine and fecal odor and body odor, and is safe and recommended for vegetarians and even vegans.

For the coffee aficionados, Santé Barley Fusion is the best option, with its combination of young barley and Robusta coffee beans that will surely wake the senses through its luscious creamy taste.

All these products comply with BioGro New Zealand Organic Standards and do not contain pork, lard or other elements of impurities defined under Islamic law, thus, halal-certified. These products are only sold by trained agents, sellers and franchisees of the company to preserve product quality standards.

“We want our partners to as well conform with our mission of building and maintaining the highest level of competence and excellence in developing wellness products and services,” said Ronnie Piñon, chief marketing officer of Sante International.

For more information on Sante International Inc., visit www.santebarley.com.

source: philstar.com