TEHRAN – Although the main cause of Alzheimer’s is unknown, its occurrence or development can be prevented to some extent by adopting some measures suggested by Iranian traditional medicine.

In general, neurodegenerative diseases in which brain tissue deteriorates are called dementia. There are different types of dementia, one of the most common types of which is Alzheimer's disease, ISNA reported.

Other types of dementia include vascular dementia or a combination of vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Less common types of dementia are also known as Lewy body dementia or frontotemporal dementia.

Exposure to stress is a potential risk factor for Alzheimer's, so it is recommended to keep the patient away from all stressful and disturbing factors.

Also, doing strenuous or vigorous activities; sleep disorders such as poor sleep, insomnia, and sleep deprivation, sleeping or taking naps during the day, especially at sunset; taking very hot or very cold showers; and drinking alcoholic beverages are among other harmful factors.

Watching one’s diet can stave off the disease, too. Cut down on foods that cause flatulence, raw garlic and onions, lettuce, leeks, watercress, sour foods (vinegar, sour apples, etc.), cheese, coriander, raw onions, beans, lentils, and avoid drinking very cold water.

Smelling fragrant flowers and listening to beautiful/ear-pleasing sounds, as well as participating in scientific discussions, particularly teaching, are effective in curing the illness.

Moreover, to strengthen one’s memory, it’s a good idea to consume porridge with almond powder, honey, rose water, cardamom, and a bit of ginger. Also consuming almond porridge, mashed apples, almond milk, hazelnut milk, apple or pear juice syrup, and drinking borage tea, melissa officinalis, lavender, and chamomile instead of tea can be effective in improving memory.

Dementia

About five percent of people over 65 years old have moderate and severe dementia, Afrouz Saffarifar, an official with the Welfare Organization, said in March.

The elderly population in Iran has doubled from five percent to 10 percent within 43 years (from 1976 to 2019), the official added.

“It is predicted that the population will reach 20 percent by 2041. So, we should prepare plans, otherwise, the aging population, which can be one of the opportunities for human life, will become a big challenge.

Dementia and Alzheimer's are among the disorders that cause severe destruction of memory, orientation, and cognition in a person. It also leads to a disorder in social functioning. So, the patient needs long-term care.”

If the diseases are detected a year earlier, the loss of memory can be postponed for five years, he highlighted.

In Iran, people born in the 1980s constitute the largest population group, who will enter old age in the next 20 or 30 years, so it is predicted that the prevalence of dementia will significantly increase in the future.

In diseases where the brain tissue is destroyed, the brain cells in certain parts of the brain are gradually destroyed and the brain has shrunk or atrophied, Maryam Abbasinejad, an expert in the mental health office of the Ministry of Health, has said.

Dementia symptoms are different depending on which part of the brain is more degraded. Symptoms may include memory problems, difficulty processing thoughts, speech problems, movement problems, loss of executive functions of the brain, or reduced learning ability, she explained.

Different pathways may lead to dementia. For example, the main cause of Alzheimer's is unknown, but it has been seen that some genetic factors influence its occurrence, it is not necessarily a hereditary disease, but some genes related to Alzheimer's are known, she said.

In histological studies, they have seen that there are certain substances in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, and these substances have played a role in the degeneration of brain tissue, she added.

Iranian traditional medicine highlights lifestyle

Experts of Iranian traditional medicine recommend that people should maintain health by adopting appropriate habits on diet, sleeping hours, mood, and other health-related issues, IRNA quoted Nafiseh Hosseini Yekta, the director of the health ministry’s office for Iranian traditional medicine, as saying.

Accordingly, traditional medicine practitioners offer lifestyle consultations to individuals based on his or her special conditions, she added.

For the time being, 48 government-owned and 19 privately-owned traditional medicine centers are offering services, she noted, saying that more than 32,300 individuals referred to the centers last year (March 2022-March 2023).

More than 100 research and technology projects on the development of traditional medicine have been implemented in the country.

In this line, the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology has supported the printing and publishing of books and encyclopedias on Iranian traditional medicine, IRNA reported.

Previously, Hosseini Yekta said Iran ranks fourth worldwide in the production of science in the field of traditional medicine, and the remarkable achievement will improve in the coming years.

Over 17,000 books have so far been published about Persian traditional medicine, which has been recognized by the World Health Organization, she noted.

Iranian traditional medicine strongly focuses on prioritizing health maintenance and disease prevention over treatment.

Iran holds 40% share of regional market

Iran holds some 40 percent share of the market for medicinal plants in the neighboring countries, an official with the Ministry of Health said on October 31.

“A large volume of pharmaceuticals, supplements, food products, and beverages are exported to Iraq, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, and Afghanistan,” IRNA quoted Hamidreza Banafsheh as saying.

Iran is among the leading countries in the field of medicine and health technology, supplying 98 percent of pharmaceutical items to the domestic market, the official noted.

“Nearly 450 out of 1,400 knowledge-based companies are active in the field of herbal medicines, biotechnology, and food industries.”

He went on to say that the National Institute for Medical Research Development aims at expanding exports of medicinal products.

Since most of the raw materials for the production of herbal medicines are native to the country, these products can internationally compete with those of the other countries, he added.

Besides, some 15 to 20 percent of Iran's herbal medicines are unique in the world. Iran has the capacity to introduce new herbal medicines to the world, he highlighted.

Producing and commercializing pharmaceutical plants are the best ways to introduce the rich resources of herbal medicines which, in addition to making foreign currency revenues for the country, will lead to the scientific authority of Iran in this field, he concluded.

MT/MG