[Good Brain 2022] Professor Lee Ae-young "One new patient every 12 minutes... Dementia, a brain disease that must be treated"

Lecture on "Dementia, What Is the Problem?"
Fearful yet Uninformed About Dementia
Reducing Different Risk Factors by Generation
"Overcome Through Increased Awareness and Connections"

Professor Lee Ae-young of Chungnam National University is giving a lecture on the topic "Dementia, What Is the Problem?" at the "Good Brain 2022 International Conference" hosted by Asia Economy on the 21st at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] "A new dementia patient is diagnosed every 12 minutes in South Korea. However, maintaining healthy habits in daily life can significantly reduce many risk factors."

Professor Lee Ae-young of the Department of Neurology at Chungnam National University Hospital stated this during a lecture titled "Dementia, What Is the Problem?" at the 'Good Brain 2022 International Conference' held on the 21st at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul.

Professor Lee first corrected misconceptions about dementia. She emphasized that aging does not necessarily mean dementia. Medically, dementia is defined as brain damage caused by various factors such as diseases or trauma, resulting in cognitive impairments including memory loss, which interfere with daily life. Professor Lee said, "Aging itself does not mean loss of mental capacity," and stressed, "Dementia is a brain disease that must be treated."

Nevertheless, it takes a long time for dementia patients to visit hospitals. This is problematic amid the rapid aging of South Korea’s population and the increasing number of dementia patients. Professor Lee pointed out, "Currently, there are 840,000 dementia patients, showing a prevalence rate of about 10%. The national management cost for dementia is 18.8 trillion won, with 120 new dementia patients diagnosed daily and 22 patients going missing each day." She continued, "However, due to fear, people do not understand dementia well. Two out of three people think dementia does not concern them, and one out of two believe dementia is incurable, resulting in an average of 2.5 years from symptom onset to diagnosis," highlighting the reality.

In this situation, Professor Lee urged lowering dementia risk factors. Risk factors vary by generation. For teenagers, air pollution and prenatal environment are risks; for people in their 20s, improper drinking habits; for those in their 30s, dietary habits; and for those in their 50s and 60s, metabolic diseases increase the likelihood of dementia. Conversely, after the age of 80, mental stimulation and social interaction become extremely important. Professor Lee explained, "Recent studies show that prolonged social isolation thins the cerebral cortex, where nerve cells gather," and "social isolation causes cognitive decline, leading to dementia."

She emphasized the importance of maintaining active social activities, communication, and intellectual stimulation. In addition to medical treatment, educating and managing patients, families, and those around them, and cooperating with social welfare institutions to ensure patients continuously live within social networks are essential for successful dementia management. Professor Lee said, "The number of dementia patients will continue to increase, and as average life expectancy rises, caregivers are also elderly, and the caregiving period is lengthening. Infrastructure is still insufficient," adding, "Increased interest and cooperation will help bring about a society that can overcome dementia sooner."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.