Is a novel initiative by Buddhi Clinic

The Buddhi Dialogue – Is a novel initiative by Buddhi Clinic to promote community engagement about the brain and mind. With brain and mind research exploding and with disoders in neurology and mental health being one of the largest contributors to public health disability and disadvantage, we see the Buddhi Dialogue as a forum to discuss with and learn from experts. For the 2019-20 fiscal, Buddhi Clinic si privileged to partner with the Madras Management Association. 

“The Ageing Brain & Mind” the subject of our first dialogue is a hot topic of neuroscience research in this century , with conditions like Dementia , Parkinson’s disease , depression predominating our collective consciousness. Prof. Madhav Thambisetty our visiting expert heads cutting edge research at the prestigious National Institute of Aging and is an Adjunct Professor at the Johns Hopkins University Medical School, Baltimore, USA. 

Buddhi Dialogue - Ageing Brain & Mind:

This is an interactive session where Prof Dr.Ennanpadam S Krishnamoorthy engages Prof Madhav Thambisetty in a dynamic interaction , exploring brain and mind ageing , current concepts and future prospects. Some aspects being addressed in this event are…

• What happens to the brain & mind as we age?
• Who ages faster- men or women? 
• Are there transcultural factors that determine brain aging?
• Where in the brain does aging take place most? 
• Where in our scope of activities is aging reflected first?
• When do the first signs of brain aging appear? 
• How early are we seeing changes in humans? 
• What are the determinants of such change? 
• Why do we age? 
• Which chemicals or hormones in us are most improtant in determining the aging process? 
• Do genes have a role in brain aging? 
• Is there a relationship between physical health and brain aging? 
• Is there a relationship between mental health & brain aging?
• What does brain aging have to do with depression? Why is depression so over-represented in the elderly?
• What about strokes and brain aging? Where is the nexus?
• Why do people have Alzheimer’s disease?
• What about lifestyle diseases? How do diabetes and hypertension for example contribute to brain aging? 
• What about sleep?
• What about weight gain in later life? 
• What is the impact of retirement? What can one do post retirement to slow down brain aging? Is Sudoku enough or does one need to do more? 
• What do you see as being the new and exciting treatment avenues in AD? Tell us a bit also about your DREAM study
• Why do some countries like Japan have many centenarians while other equally developed countries in Europe and the Americas have a smaller proportion? 
• Are there super agers?! What makes a person exemplary for their age?
• Tell us about what you are working on right now in research?
• As the TS Srinivasan NIMHANS visiting professor what do you see as areas of great interest for aging research in India? 
• How does our approach to aging need to change in India? 
• Do you have a view on Indian systems and their role_ Ayurveda & Yoga for example?

Ageing Brain & Mind :

With a rising aging population and an increasing burden of chronic disease and disability, countries like India are expecting to face a huge burden of aging disorders especially brain and mind aging. Dementia is one of the major causes of disability in late life. The prevalence of dementia, that is 2% before the age of 65 years, doubles with every five year increment in age. Dementia is a syndrome of not only forgetfulness, but also problems in orientation, judgement and problem solving, community affairs, home and hobbies and personal care. It represents the archetypal disorder of brain and mind aging, Alzheimer’s disease being the most important type of dementia. 

According to the world Alzheimer Report (see figure above) the growth in numbers will come from non-western cultures in Asia, China and India bearing the brunt. According to the Dementia India Report there were 3.7 million people with dementia living in India in 2010, a number that is expected to double by 2030. The gap in appropriate and sufficient healthcare provided to the elderly stands at 90% .

Models of Healthcare: 

While we are better resourced today in providing curative healthcare, primary care and preventive health in India lag far behind. Further, although endowed with the richness of ancient healthcare traditions - AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha & Homeopathy), we in India have failed to integrate them into the traditional healthcare framework. 

What we do at Buddhi Clinic www.buddhiclinic.com 

In the Buddhi Clinic we have researched and pioneered the utility of integrated care that combines modern medicine like drugs and brain stimulation (used mainly in adolescents and adults) with ancient wisdom. Ayurveda treatments, Acupressure and Reflexology, Natural treatments using river mud and water, which are delivered by us as part of a holistic care program. These are combined of course with conventional physical, psychological and language interventions. We also use multiple intelligences to assess and manage our children. We have, in a pioneering step, introduced “neuromodulation” - both Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)  Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (TDCS) for adults, older adults and elders with the condition. Our research has shown powerful effects of these treatments in improving behaviour and health related quality of life for those affected. 

Buddhi Clinic represents “the future of brain and mind care” combining world class assessment paradigms with drugs, use of modern neuromodulation procedures and the wealth of wisdom from ancient healthcare traditions. Indeed, what countries world over are only beginning to contemplate is being practiced actively in Buddhi Clinic.