The number of older adults suffering from dementia- an incurable chronic degenerative condition, in Malaysia is expected to nearly triple over the next 30 years. Dementia causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills, leaving patients dependent on 24-hour care in its end stages.
According to the Alzheimer's Disease Foundation, Malaysia (ADFM) in 2020, the population of persons living with dementia is estimated to be at 204,000 to 264,000 (8.5 percent to 11 percent).
This number is projected to triple to 637,500 to 825,000 by the year 2050, further proof that shows that Malaysia is fast becoming an ageing nation.
How to prevent the risk of dementia: There's good evidence that a healthy lifestyle can help reduce your risk of developing dementia. Get plenty of omega-3 fats, eat a healthy, balanced diet, and exercise your mind and body regularly with social and physical activities.
DIABETES, or diabetes mellitus, is a disease that poses a huge threat to public health. It's a common misconception that only elderly or overweight individuals have diabetes.
According to the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH), the number of youths diagnosed with diabetes rose by almost 17 percent in 2020. According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019, 1 in every 5 adults in Malaysia (about 3.9 million people) aged eighteen and above, has diabetes.
How to prevent the risk of diabetes: Eat a diet lower in fat, particularly saturated fat. Weight loss is another effective method, which can be achieved through a well-balanced diet and regular exercise. When a person loses weight, their body's cells become more insulin-sensitive, resulting in more stable blood sugar levels.
Taking diabetes-specific formulas with a low glycemic index and complete and balanced nutrition like Glucerna can also be beneficial.
HYPERTENSION, otherwise known as high blood pressure, is a common illness, with studies showing that 1 in 3 Malaysian adults suffer from this disease. This disease poses a major challenge in terms of public health and is also the main cause of illnesses such as heart attacks, heart failure, and even stroke.
Diagnosis and treatment of hypertension is more challenging for the elderly in comparison to young adults. A lifestyle and diet modification should be advocated in all hypertensive elderly. If medication is needed, it should be started at the lowest dose and adjusted gradually.
For elderlies below age of 80 years old, the target for systolic blood pressure should be below 140mmHg, and around 140-150mmHg for elderlies above 80 years old. For frail elderly or elderly suffering from orthostatic hypotension, a higher blood pressure target may be selected. The blood pressure target for this fragile group of elderly should be customized.
There are a number of risk factors associated with high blood pressure, including an unhealthy lifestyle and diet, low potassium levels, lack of exercise, consumption of certain medications and even family history.
Hypertension can also be caused by an underlying condition, like chronic kidney disease, high cholesterol levels and diabetes, otherwise known as secondary hypertension.
How to prevent the risk of high blood pressure: Limiting salt (sodium) in your diet, maintain a healthy weight, get enough exercise, and reduce stress.
According to the latest data published by the WHO in 2020, Parkinson's Disease Deaths in Malaysia reached 1,106 or 0.66% of total deaths. The age adjusted Death Rate of 4.52 per 100,000 population ranks Malaysia #69 in the world.
How to prevent Parkinson's: So far, only two theories have shown to be helpful: exercise and diet. Eating less red meat and dairy may also provide some protection against the disease.
High blood pressure and diabetes are the two most common causes of kidney failure. According to Malaysian Society of Nephrology president Prof Dr Abdul Halim Abdul Gafor, based on the Malaysian Dialysis and Transplant Registry 2018, 69% of new patients on dialysis have type 2 diabetes.
"This is a worrying trend as more Malaysians are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes" he said, noting that the prevalence of diabetes in adults has increased from 13.4% in 2015 to 18.3% in 2019, according to the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2019 by the Health Ministry.
How to prevent kidney failure: Maintain a healthy weight, quit smoking, and maintain a healthy blood sugar level, as a high blood sugar level can damage blood vessels in the kidneys.
In Malaysia, Rheumatoid Arthritis affects about 5 in 1000 people. It can start at any age from childhood to those in the nineties. The most common age for the disease to start is between 30 to 50 and women are more commonly affected than men.
It causes the joint lining (synovium) to swell, which causes pain and stiffness in the joint.
How to prevent arthritis: Stay at a healthy weight, stretch often, exercise, and include plenty of low-fat, high-fiber foods in your diet.
Most cataracts develop when aging or injury changes the tissue that makes up the eye's lens. Proteins and fibers in the lens begin to break down, causing vision to become hazy or cloudy. Some inherited genetic disorders that cause other health problems can increase your risk of cataracts.
How to prevent cataract: Eating foods high in antioxidants, such as beta-carotene, selenium, and vitamins C and E may also help ward off cataract development
Osteoporosis is a growing health concern in Malaysia with an estimated 77 per cent of Malaysian women living with post-menopausal osteoporosis.
It's a disease that remains underdiagnosed and undertreated, with very little data on its prevalence despite the huge impact it has, especially on a woman's life.
It's a silent disease with no symptoms and often goes unnoticed until patients experience a fracture. Globally, osteoporosis causes more than 8.9 million fractures every single year.
How to prevent osteoporosis: Eat a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, do at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity.
Many primary care clinics run health services for the older persons but may not be trained and equipped to manage the mental health problems adequately. As of 2018, there were 39 geriatricians in Malaysia, and 410 registered psychiatrists, with geriatric psychiatrists numbering less than 10.
Professor Philip George, an academic at International Medical University and a committee member of Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society (MHAS) said in an interview: “This is grossly insufficient as recent projections suggest that between 2020 and 2046, the percentage of elderly Malaysians will have increased from seven to 14 per cent [of the population]”.
Philip stated that elderly people above 60 years old have higher prevalence in mental health issues. The risk is higher with increasing age.
How to prevent depression: A steady routine of exercise, spending time on social relationships, and cutting back on social media can help to regulate mood-affecting hormones and improve mental and emotional health.
Sources:
1. NST - Dementia cases set to rise 312 per cent by 2050: Is Malaysia prepared? - 6 June 2022
2. NST - Golden Year, facing challenges of ageing nation - 8 October 2022.
3. NST - #HEALTH: Heart disease - young adults are also at risk - 21 August 2022
4. NST- Pneumonia: elderly are at risk - 25 May 2021
5. MyHealth- Stroke
6. MOH - Hypertension treatment goals in Elderly - 2 March 2016
7. NST - Study shows 1 in 3 Malaysians are affected by hypertension- 19 May 2021
8. WorldHealthRankings- https://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/malaysia-parkinson-disease
9. The Star - Malaysian Society of Nephrology urges M'sians to change lifestyle, 69% of new patients on dialysis are diabetics - 13 Nov 2021
10. NST- Fragile and vulnerable - 2 March 2021
11. CodeBlue - The Invisible Mental Health Issues Of Older Malaysians - 19 November 2022
12. NST - Regulating blood sugar levels and managing diabetes - 22 June 2021
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