Chandigarh: Medical and traditional health experts advocated for preventive lifestyle interventions like yoga and early diagnosis to combat the rising public health challenge of neurodegenerative disorders during a day-long workshop titled “Yoga, Ageing and Dementia Care” at Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER). Organised by the CCRYN - Collaborative Centre for Mind Body Intervention through Yoga (PGIMER) in partnership with the World NCD Federation, the seminar drew 100 researchers, healthcare professionals, and students.
The event brought together neurologists, psychiatrists, public health leaders, and yoga scientists to discuss dementia prevention and healthy aging. PGI director Dr Vivek Lal inaugurated the programme alongside guest of honour Dr Ravneet Kaur, director principal of GMCH-32.
Underscoring the increasing medical burden of dementia on aging populations, Dr Lal urged the younger generation to spend time reflecting with themselves. He noted, “Yoga is connection of outer self to inner self to attain mental harmony.” Dr Akshay Anand, professor in-charge of the PGIMER Yoga Centre, supported this view, calling for tight inter-disciplinary alliances to develop evidence-based integrative medical care. Addressing regional epidemiological trends, Dr JS Thakur, president of the World NCD Federation, mapped out the growing global risks of dementia and advocated for the creation of specialized medical hubs dedicated exclusively to healthy aging.
Detailing recent diagnostic advances, Dr Sucharita Ray, associate professor in PGIMER’s department of neurology, highlighted how biological indicators can reveal early-stage dementia to ensure timely treatment. Offering advice on patient support, she emphasised that a caregiver should always “Remember who they are” while looking after an individual, particularly when the patient no longer recognises them.
The workshop concluded with a joint consensus to bridge the gap between clinical research and traditional health practitioners, establishing comprehensive management frameworks for dementia care.
