Prof. Dr. Çağatay Öncel shared the following information: “The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. In our country, the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in individuals over the age of 65 is 11–20%. The disease begins insidiously, and patients are often brought to the doctor at the insistence of first-degree relatives. The most important impairment in the early stage is memory loss. Patients have difficulty finding words, forget names, misplace objects, and cannot remember where they put things. They repeat the same things throughout the day, ask the same questions repeatedly, and forget their appointments. They begin to forget recent conversations, such as those that occurred within the last few hours. Sometimes the disease also presents with withdrawal, indifference, and signs of depression.”

Prof. Dr. Çağatay Öncel: “Early Diagnosis is Extremely Important.”

Prof. Dr. Çağatay Öncel emphasized that there are medications that can somewhat slow the progression of the disease and help with behavioral changes. He also noted that vaccines developed in the United States in recent years have the potential to treat the disease by 40%, but these drugs are not yet widespread and treatment costs are very high, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis. He continued: “Lifestyle habits known to be effective in preventing Alzheimer’s include following the Mediterranean diet (fish, vegetables, olive oil-based meals), regular exercise and walking, controlling risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol, and engaging in activities that enhance cognitive functions (puzzles, reading newspapers or books, social activities), which reduce the risk of developing the disease. One point that should not be forgotten: Not all forgetfulness is dementia, and not all dementia is Alzheimer’s. Individuals experiencing such complaints should consult a specialist.”