Brain is perhaps the most complex thing known to mankind. It consists of roughly a hundred billion neurons with more than ten trillion connections helping it subserve functions as diverse as vegetative to sensori-motor to cognitive and behavioural. But Brain is at risk right since the time of conception in the mother’s womb. It’s exposed to the teratogenic effects of drugs, environmental toxins and radiations while in utero. Brain is the most vulnerable to the birth related injuries as well. During infancy and early childhood brain is highly susceptible to viruses, bacteria and other infectious agents leading to varying degree of injuries. Road traffic accidents are the leading cause of death and disabilities in young adults. Approximately 1.3 million people die each year due to road traffic accidents and between 20 and 50 million suffer non fatal injuries with permanent disabilities. Stroke and tumours are the leading causes of brain injuries in elderly. So Brain is at risk....
This world brain day, we have theme, “Brain health for all”. And there are five keys to achieve this, viz. Awareness, Prevention, Advocacy, Education and Access. Each one has its own importance but my thought goes with Prevention especially. I have some simple and pointed suggestions regarding prevention of brain insults at various stages of life.
A, planned pregnancy with timely prenatal checkups and compulsory institutionalised safe delivery practice can optimise foetal health and minimize birth related hypoxic brain injuries.
B, strict implementation of universal immunization program will effectively reduce deadly infective conditions of brain e.g., Meningitis, Encephalitis etc.
C, educating youths to live responsibly can reduce road traffic accidents, drug abuses and resulting brain damage.
And D, learning to respect aging while in youth by timely health check up and risk factors assessment can go a long way in preventing vascular brain insult like Stroke.
This world brain day, my Advocacy is for the equitable access of “Brain health for all”.
#BrainHealthForAll
#WorldBrainDay2022
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#KinsInstituteofNeuroSciences