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00:00:30Hello and welcome to a short news segment from BBC Persian TV.
00:00:34The Speaker of the Iranian Parliament has criticized factions that, according to him, are leading the country
00:00:38towards an endless war. Mohammad Bagher
00:00:42Qalib also confirmed that Iran has sent messages and conditions
00:00:45to the United States through mediators. Mr. Qalib
00:00:49said Iran should both fight and negotiate.
00:00:52Earlier, Mohsen Rezaee, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council,
00:00:56said that Iran is awaiting America's response. The end
00:01:00of conflict on all fronts, the release of frozen Iranian assets,
00:01:04and the lifting of the naval blockade are among the demands
00:01:07set by Tehran.
00:01:08Turkey
00:01:11has announced its joint effort with several other
00:01:14countries to present a new proposal aimed at bringing
00:01:18Iran and the United States closer to an agreement.
00:01:22Hakan Fidan, the Turkish Foreign Minister, without elaborating
00:01:25on the details of the plan, said there is deep distrust between
00:01:29Tehran and Washington in these negotiations
00:01:38to pursue their interests. At the same time, the Pakistani Interior Minister is scheduled to visit Tehran today. Pakistan has been a mediator between Iran
00:01:42and the US in recent months.
00:01:44The US President has
00:01:47cut short his weekend holiday at Camp David
00:01:51and returned to the White House earlier than scheduled.
00:01:54According to Axios, Donald Trump was supposed to return
00:01:58from Camp David to Washington today. The White House
00:02:02has not yet announced the reason for this decision.
00:02:05Meanwhile, US embassies in West Asian countries
00:02:09have issued urgent security warnings for American citizens
00:02:13in the region. Saudi Arabia
00:02:16has confirmed that Houthi
00:02:19rebels in Yemen attempted yesterday to target
00:02:23the capital with a ballistic missile.
00:02:27Riyadh says it intercepted and destroyed the missile.
00:02:31Earlier, media reported hearing several explosions
00:02:34in Riyadh, and there were also reports of a smoke plume near
00:02:38the city's airport. According to these reports,
00:02:42a fuel tank belonging to the Aramco oil company
00:02:46near the airport caught fire.
00:02:49Meanwhile, the United States has warned that the conflict between Saudi Arabia
00:02:53and the Houthis, who are supported by Iran, could rapidly
00:02:56escalate. Ukraine
00:03:03has carried out widespread drone attacks on Moscow
00:03:07and its surrounding areas. The mayor of Moscow described
00:03:10the attack as unprecedented in scale, saying it involved
00:03:14450 drones. In these attacks, two
00:03:18people were killed, and an oil refinery was targeted.
00:03:21More than 30 flights were also canceled
00:03:24or delayed. These attacks coincided with the third
00:03:27and final day of voting in Russia's parliamentary elections.
00:03:31Only parties close to the Kremlin
00:03:35participated in these elections.
00:03:36Thank you for joining
00:03:40us for this news segment. Our next news program
00:03:44will begin in an hour. Thank you for choosing BBC Persian.
00:03:47The head of the Iranian Alzheimer's
00:03:53Association recently warned that the number of patients
00:03:57aged 45 to 65 with Alzheimer's symptoms
00:04:00has increased. In the second special program on forgetfulness
00:04:03and dementia, we will discuss 14 proven methods
00:04:07for preventing dementia that are achievable
00:04:10for all of us. We will discuss the latest Alzheimer's
00:04:14treatments and their effectiveness and ask experts
00:04:17if Alzheimer's is hereditary. Is Alzheimer's
00:04:21hereditary?
00:04:54Before we delve into the 14 effective ways to prevent dementia
00:04:57and forgetfulness, let's first consider if this disease
00:05:01is indeed hereditary. The reality is that while Alzheimer's
00:05:05is more common in some families than others,
00:05:09it's not the case that if a parent had Alzheimer's,
00:05:13for example, there's a 100% or even 50% chance of inheriting
00:05:16the disease. However, it's true that first-degree
00:05:19relatives have a slightly higher chance of developing
00:05:23the disease. In recent years,
00:05:27a significant number of genetic factors that increase the risk
00:05:31and likelihood of developing Alzheimer's have been identified, particularly
00:05:35a gene called APOE, which has been extensively written
00:05:38about and researched. The reality is that individuals
00:05:42with a specific type of APOE have a higher chance compared
00:05:46to others who don't have that type,
00:05:49but not in a dramatically increased way.
00:05:52Regarding frontotemporal dementia, which we discussed,
00:05:56it's a disease that affects younger individuals. The role
00:06:00of genetic factors is more prominent in that disease,
00:06:03and perhaps around 20 to 30% of
00:06:07individuals inherit a gene from their family
00:06:10that causes the disease for them. Other types
00:06:14of diseases that lead to dementia don't have
00:06:18such a strong genetic component, with the exception
00:06:21of Down syndrome. Because of the specific genetic
00:06:25problem that individuals with Down syndrome have,
00:06:28it's almost guaranteed that individuals with Down syndrome
00:06:32will have an increased amount of substances that lead
00:06:35to Alzheimer's in their brains around the age of 40,
00:06:39and they will almost certainly show symptoms by the age of 50.
00:07:12are effective in prevention. It's true that genetics and age cannot
00:07:16be changed, but for factors related to a healthy lifestyle,
00:07:20things can be done.
00:07:23A study on 29,000 people was conducted regarding
00:07:26the prevention of dementia. Could you explain its findings?
00:07:29We estimate
00:07:32that about 40% of cases of onset
00:07:35could be preventable. Currently, millions of
00:07:38people worldwide live with dementia, and it is predicted
00:07:42that by 2050, this number will reach
00:07:45over 150 million. Any action that can reduce
00:07:49this statistic is crucial. Of course, countries
00:07:53have different situations based on their resources,
00:07:56but the potential for change is very high, and much
00:08:00more can be done. Most people don't even
00:08:03know that they can reduce their risk. A study
00:08:07in Britain showed that only one-third of people know
00:08:11that the probability
00:08:16It's true that there is no definitive cure for dementia,
00:08:19forgetfulness, and Alzheimer's, but the very good news
00:08:23is that according to the latest reputable studies, there
00:08:26are 14 things we can do to prevent
00:08:30or delay the onset. Experts say that if you do
00:08:33these 14 things, 40 to 45
00:08:37percent of cases of onset are either preventable or
00:08:41delayed, which is a lot. 40 to 45. Let's see what
00:08:44these 14 things are. Education in early life
00:08:48is very important. It alone can
00:08:50reduce the incidence of this brain disease by 5%
00:08:54globally. The better the education,
00:08:57the more cognitive reserve the brain has, and the brain
00:09:01gains greater resistance to dementia
00:09:04in later years. This is from early
00:09:07life. In the middle
00:09:11years and in middle age, there are things we can do.
00:09:15The first and most important
00:09:21is treating or correcting hearing loss. If all those in the world who suffer
00:09:24from hearing loss can treat or correct this problem,
00:09:27for example, with hearing aids, 7% of
00:09:31Alzheimer's, dementia, forgetfulness, and
00:09:35dementia cases globally will decrease.
00:09:39More research is needed to understand the mechanism
00:09:42of hearing loss's impact on dementia, but one
00:09:46possible explanation is that when you don't hear well, your
00:09:49social interactions are affected. Communication with others becomes
00:09:53more difficult, and you may be less inclined to go out.
00:09:56Hearing loss even affects body balance, and sometimes
00:10:00you fall more often. This might lead you to go out less
00:10:03and walk less. So, hearing loss creates a vicious
00:10:07cycle and thus increases the risk of dementia.
00:10:11According to the evidence we have so far, using hearing
00:10:15aids can be very beneficial and significantly reduce
00:10:18the risk. That's why it's very important to get our hearing
00:10:22checked regularly, just like our eyes. There are also
00:10:26free online tests. If these tests show a problem,
00:10:30then you can consult a specialist. You may or may not need
00:10:33a hearing aid. This negative view of hearing aids
00:10:37being clunky and ugly, or only for the elderly,
00:10:40is simply not true. Many of us might think
00:10:43it's too early to worry about our hearing in our 40s.
00:10:47But when I was working on a report about tinnitus,
00:10:51I decided to take a hearing test myself.
00:10:55The result surprised and saddened me deeply.
00:11:20Oh, these charts are very scary. The two are completely
00:11:23different.
00:11:45Here it's clear that your right ear hears all sounds.
00:11:49Your left ear also hears almost all frequencies except
00:11:53one. The fact is that
00:11:58many of our speech sounds are in the frequency range of 3,
00:12:014, 5, and 6 kilohertz. Sounds like "f," "s," and
00:12:05"th" are those high-pitched and delicate speech sounds.
00:12:09in the chart, meaning it suddenly
00:12:13goes down and then up, it's often a sign that the person
00:12:17has been exposed to a lot of noise for a long time,
00:12:20for example, due to listening to loud music or working
00:12:23in a noisy environment. This hearing loss never gets better.
00:12:27Usually, when such a chart is seen, it often means that
00:12:31permanent damage has been done to the inner ear. Do I need
00:12:34to wear a hearing aid? I don't recommend it for now,
00:12:38unless this hearing loss causes you problems in understanding
00:12:42others and socializing. If not, for now, take
00:12:45care of your ears and repeat the hearing test every year.
00:12:49Treatment for depression reduces cases by 3%,
00:12:52and treatment for severe brain injuries or serious
00:12:56head injuries, such as heading in football, which we've also
00:13:00had a program on before, reduces the number of cases
00:13:04by 3%. I also made a program about how heading
00:13:07the ball in football can damage the brain and lead to dementia
00:13:11in adulthood. I came to see Dr. Michael Gray, a senior
00:13:15researcher for one of the most reputable studies
00:13:18in this field. What do we know about the link between head
00:13:21injuries in football and brain diseases? First, I want to emphasize
00:13:25that running in football is excellent for our brain
00:13:29health. The problem is that if someone has repeatedly
00:13:32performed actions like heading the ball during their professional
00:13:36career, their brain will suffer more neurodegeneration
00:13:40after the age of 50 and certainly after
00:13:4365, compared to someone who hasn't. Therefore,
00:13:46if we compare a professional runner with a professional
00:13:49footballer, we see that the footballer's brain is more
00:13:53damaged, and the reason is that the footballer heads the
00:13:57ball. Many people might think that at that age,
00:14:01anyone might develop dementia, but in 2019, an important
00:14:04study called FIELD was published, which clearly showed that
00:14:08professional footballers have a five times higher risk
00:14:11of developing dementia than an ordinary person.
00:14:15These risks were not observed
00:14:16in goalkeepers, who head the
00:14:21ball less often. Dr. Gray, how can a head injury cause
00:14:26such damage to the brain? If, as a result of a direct
00:14:29or even indirect blow to the head, brain function
00:14:33changes in the short term, we say that brain injury
00:14:37has occurred. It doesn't have to be a blow to the head;
00:14:41it could be a blow to the body, but due to the whiplash
00:14:44effect, the brain is damaged.
00:14:46Perhaps a good example is bobbleheads, where
00:14:50a large head sways on a slender neck.
00:14:53Look at this brain, which sits on top of the head.
00:14:57When something hits it, the brain wobbles
00:14:59and shakes.
00:15:01The skull prevents catastrophic injuries, but it doesn't
00:15:05prevent the brain from wobbling. The brain is not actually
00:15:08attached to the skull. The brain floats
00:15:11in the cerebrospinal fluid
00:15:13inside the skull.
00:15:16Brain tissue is like jelly in a mold;
00:15:18it's soft. Any impact causes this tissue
00:15:22to shake back and forth and also to rotate.
00:15:26This shaking and rotation damages the nerve fibers
00:15:29in the brain, i.e., axons.
00:15:37Are these
00:15:45Children are definitely more susceptible to brain injuries
00:15:49than adults, and there are several reasons for this. The part
00:15:53of the brain responsible for risk protection is not fully
00:15:56formed in children, nor are the neural connections
00:16:00of that part, nor even the white matter, which is the tissue
00:16:03that surrounds the nerves for risk protection. None
00:16:07of them are fully developed. On the other hand, the whiplash
00:16:11effect is greater in children because a child's head
00:16:14size is almost similar to an adult's, but a child
00:16:17does not have the neck muscles of an adult. Therefore, children
00:16:21cannot tolerate the whiplash effect, and this is the main
00:16:24cause of mechanical injury due to brain
00:16:27shaking. If footballers head the ball more in their
00:16:31youth, does it increase the severity of their Alzheimer's
00:16:34or Parkinson's in adulthood? We used to think that
00:16:38if someone suffered multiple concussions during their professional
00:16:41playing career, this would lead to dementia. But now
00:16:45we think the cause is what we call micro-concussions.
00:16:49These are concussions that have no clinical symptoms,
00:16:52meaning people don't get headaches or experience brain fog.
00:16:56They don't know that their brain has been damaged. But
00:16:59more often in training and also in competitions, with
00:17:03the continuous repetition of these concussions every day, every
00:17:07week, and for many years, these injuries accumulate.
00:17:11And in our opinion, it is these micro-brain shakes
00:17:14that lead to more severe neurodegeneration in later
00:17:18life. The important point is that footballers, compared
00:17:21to other healthy individuals in society, develop these
00:17:25neurodegenerative diseases at a much younger age.
00:17:29So we should still exercise. We should maintain the cardiovascular
00:17:33benefits of this exercise, but no longer head the ball.
00:17:36At the very least, children
00:17:39should not head the ball in this game. If people control
00:17:42their high cholesterol, again, 7% of cases
00:17:45of this disease in the world are either reduced
00:17:48or the onset is delayed to later
00:17:52years. If your doctor has prescribed medication
00:17:55to control your cholesterol, that's fine.
00:17:59But if they told you to lower your cholesterol by changing
00:18:02your lifestyle, two things were effective
00:18:05for me: eating two apples with skin daily.
00:18:08Your cholesterol was slightly high before this test.
00:18:12Normally, it should be less than 5,
00:18:16and yours was 6 millimoles per liter.
00:18:19But after this test, it has come down to 4.10,
00:18:23and the other thing was a 100% vegetarian
00:18:27diet, which I tried
00:18:27for a month.
00:18:32If you prevent or control diabetes,
00:18:352% of cases are reduced.
00:18:38Quitting smoking by 2%, controlling
00:18:41blood pressure by 2%,
00:18:45treating obesity and morbid obesity
00:18:48by 1%, reducing alcohol consumption
00:18:51by 1%, all eliminate or delay
00:18:55the onset of forgetfulness and dementia. Quitting smoking
00:18:58helps. Any time you quit smoking, it's great.
00:19:01At any age we quit, it reduces the risk of onset
00:19:05by 2%. Of course, earlier
00:19:08is better, but even at older ages, quitting
00:19:11smoking can reduce the risk of dementia.
00:19:14Research has shown that those who were able
00:19:18to consume healthy and diverse foods,
00:19:21such as fruits, seeds, vegetables, and some
00:19:25meat, fish, and grains, had a lower risk of
00:19:28developing dementia. Naturally, consuming
00:19:31excessive fats, salt, and processed
00:19:35foods is harmful.
00:19:38What about mental activities? Which are the most beneficial?
00:19:41Apparently, engaging in a variety of different activities, whether
00:19:45solving puzzles, learning a language, or playing
00:19:49an instrument, all of which keep the brain active,
00:19:52are beneficial. Especially when they are enjoyable
00:19:56and you regularly continue them. This helps the brain
00:19:59remain flexible, and even when diseases that cause
00:20:02dementia damage its cells, it can continue to function.
00:20:06Research has shown that even at old age and perhaps
00:20:10in the early stages of dementia, any change
00:20:13in lifestyle is likely beneficial,
00:20:17especially activities like exercise that help
00:20:20increase strength and motor skills. What do we
00:20:24know about the connection between air pollution and
00:20:27this disease?
00:20:29We still don't know exactly through what mechanism
00:20:33air pollution increases the risk of dementia, but
00:20:36it is probably due to the effect of pollutants
00:20:40on the cardiovascular system. Since blood
00:20:43vessels also reach the brain, this damage is also
00:20:46transmitted to the brain. Probably the same risk.
00:20:56In later years of life, there are three important things we need to do. The most important is to ensure we don't become socially
00:21:00isolated. If we maintain our social connections
00:21:04at that age, 5% of all cases
00:21:08of forgetfulness, dementia, and
00:21:10cognitive decline globally will either disappear
00:21:14or be delayed. 5%.
00:21:17This is very interesting.
00:21:20We don't exactly know why it's so important,
00:21:24but interaction and socializing with others,
00:21:27whether by phone calls, walks together,
00:21:30or a coffee or tea appointment, or any
00:21:34other social activity, contributes to both cognitive
00:21:38health and mental health. It's a positive cycle
00:21:42where all parts help each other.
00:21:45Another important point is that if the problem
00:21:49of air pollution is resolved, or if the air where we live
00:21:53is not polluted, then at that age alone,
00:21:57the incidence of this disease can be reduced by 3%.
00:22:00And finally, if you have vision problems
00:22:04and can treat them at that age, 2% of
00:22:07all dementia cases globally will be reduced or delayed.
00:22:11In total, if you do all these 14 things,
00:22:15you can prevent 40 to 45% of cases of this disease,
00:22:18which is a very large number until a definitive
00:22:22cure exists.
00:22:23Another area that is
00:22:27very interesting from a research perspective is the connection
00:22:30between sleep and the risk of dementia. There is still
00:22:34no clear evidence for this. This possibility
00:22:37has neither been confirmed nor rejected, but it is
00:22:40very intriguing. Considering what happens
00:22:44during sleep and its positive impact on brain
00:22:47health, if a connection exists, it wouldn't be surprising
00:22:51at all.
00:22:53It's true that these 14 factors we mentioned are things
00:22:57we can do to prevent or delay dementia.
00:23:01However, there are two points you should know. First,
00:23:05these diseases are not always preventable, and second,
00:23:08if we or one of our loved ones develops a disease
00:23:12under the umbrella of dementia, it's not our fault.
00:23:15We shouldn't blame ourselves. However, the more research
00:23:19is done,
00:23:23both about better understanding this disease and about ways
00:23:26to help affected individuals, Professor James Rowe,
00:23:30a cognitive neurology professor at Cambridge University,
00:23:33is very hopeful about the future of this research. This is
00:23:36an extraordinary period for dementia specialists. We are
00:23:39on the verge of a major transformation, and progress
00:23:43in understanding the causes of dementia, as well as in
00:23:46faster diagnosis and potential treatment methods, is very
00:23:50rapid. The speed of changes is very exciting and not
00:23:53even comparable to a decade ago. Recently, the news of a new
00:23:57blood test for diagnosing dementia has attracted
00:24:00a lot of attention. With new tests, changes in the body
00:24:04that are related to Alzheimer's, for example, can be identified
00:24:07with a simple blood sample. Of course, observing these
00:24:10changes does not necessarily mean that memory problems
00:24:14are definitely Alzheimer's, but it is a big step
00:24:17forward and makes the diagnosis process faster, simpler,
00:24:20cheaper, and more accessible. Are you looking for other
00:24:24measurable markers for Alzheimer's diagnosis? For many
00:24:27years, the focus has been on amyloid protein. This
00:24:31protein is a big part of Alzheimer's, but it may
00:24:35not be the most important part, and it may not be
00:24:38where treatments have the most efficacy. There are other
00:24:42harmful proteins, one of which is a protein called Tau,
00:24:45which plays a big role in this story. In addition,
00:24:49inflammation occurs in the brains of people with dementia.
00:24:53Some brain cells also undergo a specific type
00:24:56of death. So, solutions can be found. It may be possible
00:25:00to save those brain cells, reduce inflammation, and
00:25:03inhibit the Tau protein. All of these open up
00:25:06avenues for treatment. Treatments that are likely more effective,
00:25:10more practical, and more accessible, and will be realized
00:25:14in the next few years. What are the new treatments?
00:25:17In this area, there have also been enormous changes
00:25:21in the past couple of years. Now we have two approved
00:25:24treatment methods that are the beginning of this path.
00:25:28Although the effectiveness of these treatments is limited
00:25:31and they are only suitable for a small group
00:25:35of patients, it is considered a start. This reminds
00:25:39all those involved in this field and policymakers
00:25:43that dementia, like any other disease, is
00:25:46treatable if there is investment, research, clinical trials,
00:25:50and effective treatments are found. We will definitely
00:25:54make progress. These two treatments have put us at
00:25:58the beginning of this path. I believe that in the
00:26:01next 10 years, we will see a wide range of different
00:26:05treatments. More patients will receive treatment,
00:26:08and the treatments will also fundamentally be more effective
00:26:11and safer. But what do we know about the new
00:26:15Alzheimer's treatments? These drugs, Lecanemab
00:26:19and Donanemab, target a protein called
00:26:22amyloid-beta, a protein that abnormally
00:26:25accumulates in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer's
00:26:29disease. These drugs, by helping to remove these
00:26:33amyloid deposits in the brain, can slow down the progression
00:26:36of the disease to some extent. These drugs
00:26:39are not a definitive cure for dementia, but
00:26:43they may be beneficial for some individuals who
00:26:46are in the very early stages of Alzheimer's.
00:26:50By slowing down the progression,
00:26:53they can help them maintain their independence for
00:26:56a longer period and experience milder symptoms.
00:27:00Of course, these drugs can also have
00:27:04side effects such as brain swelling or small
00:27:08brain hemorrhages, and the patient should be regularly
00:27:12monitored with an MRI. Who is eligible to receive
00:27:15these new treatments? Only individuals in
00:27:19the early stages of Alzheimer's disease who have mild
00:27:22symptoms, and doctors must also confirm the presence
00:27:26of amyloid protein accumulation in the brain.
00:27:30This is done with a brain PET scan or a CSF test.
00:28:02We also collaborate very closely with computer and artificial
00:28:05intelligence specialists, engineers, and immunobiologists.
00:28:09Understanding this disease requires a very wide range
00:28:12of skills and expertise. For example, in the
00:28:16meeting you had today, what kind of help would you expect
00:28:19from an AI specialist? Artificial intelligence
00:28:22is a collection of various
00:28:26and capabilities, and it has numerous applications. For example,
00:28:29it can extract the best information from brain scans
00:28:35and look for indicators that help diagnose the disease
00:28:39or predict the patient's condition. These are indicators
00:28:42that are not visible to the naked eye. It can also
00:28:45gather more information from complex blood tests.
00:28:49From one blood sample, we can measure two or three thousand
00:28:52different biochemical substances. Each of these substances
00:28:56gives us a small piece of information, but individually,
00:28:59they are very weak. Artificial intelligence
00:29:03combines all these signals, like the voices of people
00:29:05in a crowd, to arrive at
00:29:08stronger messages for diagnosis. Many people ask, while
00:29:11we are waiting for new treatments, can supplements help?
00:29:14The reality is that to date, no supplement
00:29:17has been able to scientifically prove with strong evidence
00:29:21that it can either prevent dementia or slow
00:29:24down its progression. That's why health experts
00:29:28advise caution when dealing with products that make
00:29:31big and definitive claims, because it's
00:29:35very unlikely that they have sufficient scientific backing.
00:29:39The incidence of dementia diseases, including Alzheimer's
00:29:43and forgetfulness, is increasing all
00:29:45over the world, and this is concerning. But
00:29:48let's remember that almost half of
00:29:52dementia cases may be preventable.
00:29:55It's true that controlling some factors like air pollution
00:29:59is not in our hands, but there are many
00:30:02things we can do, from paying attention
00:30:06to our hearing Healthy eating,
00:30:09exercise, keeping your mind active, and maintaining
00:30:12social relationships are things that reputable research shows
00:30:16can really help reduce the risk of developing forgetfulness,
00:30:19Alzheimer's, and dementia. I hope this
00:30:23program was useful for you. The full program has just been
00:30:26uploaded to YouTube. If you think it would be helpful for someone, I would be very grateful if
00:30:30you could send them the link. I will also upload short