Latest news with #RajulAggarwal
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Pedal for the mind: Cycling linked to lower dementia risk, study finds
NEW DELHI: Individuals who primarily commute by bicycle have a reduced overall risk of developing dementia compared to people who rely on passive transport methods like automobiles, buses, or railways. This was revealed in a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open, analysing data related to 4,79,723 participants across 13 years. The authors of the study said, "Our findings suggest that promoting active travel strategies, particularly cycling, may be associated with lower dementia risk among middle-aged and older adults, which carries substantial public health benefits by encouraging accessible, sustainable practices for cognitive health preservation." They said that cycling and mixed-cycling modes were associated with a lower incidence of all-cause dementia, including early-onset, late-onset and Alzheimer's disease. Neurologists confirm that this recent study reinforces their existing understanding of cycling's positive impact on cognitive function and its ability to lower dementia risk. The research indicates that cycling activates various physiological processes that support mental health. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Physical activities, including walking, cycling, aerobics, and dancing, all improve brain function. Dr Rajul Aggarwal, director, neurology, Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, explained that aerobic activities such as cycling boost cerebral blood flow, delivering oxygen and nutrients to crucial brain regions, particularly the hippocampus, which manages learning and memory. Cycling promotes brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) production, a protein that supports synaptic plasticity whilst promoting neuron development and longevity. These processes prevent neurodegeneration, decrease oxidative stress, and reduce beta-amyloid deposits associated with Alzheimer's. Cycling also supports cardiovascular health, reduces inflammation, improves insulin sensitivity, and regulates blood pressure, collectively lowering dementia risk. Global dementia cases are projected to rise from 55 million in 2019 to 139 million by 2050, becoming a major disability factor in elderly people. Young-onset dementia, occurring before 65 years, affects around 3.9 million people globally, requiring more intensive care despite being less frequent than late-onset cases. Dr Vinit Suri, senior neurology consultant, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, indicated that young-onset cases represented 5-10% of all dementia diagnoses. He said the affected people were typically aged 45-65 years, occasionally 30-40 years. "Early detection is vital because symptoms can be confused with stress or mental health issues, delaying diagnosis," said Suri. "Young-onset dementia symptoms include memory loss, planning difficulties, personality changes, language issues, and poor judgement. Younger patients may show work performance changes, financial management problems, and social interaction difficulties. Some cases present movement or visual-spatial issues, depending on the cause. Professional assessment is crucial due to symptom overlap with other conditions." Dr Arun Garg, chairman, neurology and neurosciences, Medanta Medicity, listed the main young-onset dementia causes: "Alzheimer's disease (most common, even in younger individuals), frontotemporal dementia (affecting behaviour and language), vascular dementia (due to stroke or reduced blood flow to the brain), Lewy body dementia, genetic factors (mutations in the APP or PSEN genes). Secondary causes like traumatic brain injury, infections (like HIV), or autoimmune diseases. " While dementia typically appears after age 60, younger people increasingly experience strokes due to smoking, alcohol, hypertension, diabetes, air pollution and sleep apnea, pointed out professor Manjari Tripathi, head, neurology, AIIMS. Multiple strokes can lead to vascular cognitive impairment and vascular dementia, the second most common type after Alzheimer's. Tripathi recommended a balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits, sprouts and legumes.
News18
11 hours ago
- Health
- News18
What Happens To The Brain In The Final Moments Before A Plane Crash? Explained
To answer that, News18 spoke to neurologists, psychologists, and trauma specialists who help unpack the biological reality of a high-impact crash—what the brain experiences in the final moments. Brain-Led Instincts In The Final Seconds According to experts, as the aircraft begins its uncontrolled descent, the brain activates primitive survival mechanisms, and the human body releases 'adrenaline' due to extreme fear. 'In the final seconds before a high-impact crash, the human body enters a state of extreme stress. Adrenaline is released, heart rate spikes, breathing becomes rapid, and muscles tense up," explains Dr Shobha Sharma, consultant psychologist at Yashoda Super Speciality Hospital, Ghaziabad. Mentally, people may experience heightened alertness or paradoxical calm. 'People may experience racing thoughts, tunnel vision, or even a strange sense of calm or detachment. Time can feel like it slows down." Dr Rajul Aggarwal, director, neurology, at Delhi-based Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, explained that at such a point, the body is wracked with sheer fear and adrenaline. 'The reality is that in a high-impact scenario, the brain does not have the time to process the feeling of pain or fear for long." Do victims remain conscious?/strong> When the aircraft hits, the brain suffers severe physical trauma. The result or consequence depends on the speed and angle of the impact, the location of the individual in the aircraft and whether the individual was wearing any protective equipment, such as seatbelts. 'The brain is considered very vulnerable, and in a sudden impact of violent deceleration, there is a possibility that the brain can slam against the skull, causing a very serious injury to the health of an individual, such as diffuse axonal injury or many others," Aggarwal added. According to Dr Dhavapalani Alagappan, head, emergency response department at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, there are high chances that the majority of people would have lost consciousness before the plane caught fire. 'The height and speed would cause huge trauma to the brain and other parts of the human body. The impact on the head would have been massive. A small proportion of people could have been aware till the last moment, but otherwise, many would have already lost their senses." Explaining this scientifically, Dr Anandh Balasubramaniam, senior consultant, head of department, neurosurgery, at Faridabad-based Amrita Hospital said, 'Severe deceleration during a crash causes abrupt violence to internal organs. … diffuse axonal injury—where neurons shear torn due to momentum differentials." However, the real scenario depends on crash dynamics. 'In cases of gradual decompression—like MH17 —victims may remain conscious during descent until impact. Similarly, rapid cabin depressurisation can cause loss of consciousness within seconds due to sudden hypoxia." Advertisement Dr Balasubramaniam was referring to Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, which in 2014 was hit by a missile at high altitude, and investigators believe some passengers may have remained conscious during the long descent before the final impact. A similar case was with Air France Flight 447 in 2009. In this case, the aircraft stalled mid-air and took over three minutes to descend, suggesting the possibility that passengers were aware during the fall, intensifying psychological trauma.
