Ahmedabad: Stavya Spine Hospital, a renowned leader in exclusive spine care for over two decades, has introduced the Open Standing Weight Bearing MRI(Manufactured by Esaote SpA Italy) to its suite of advanced diagnostic tools. This innovative technology, designed specifically to meet the unique demands of spine diagnostics, enables imaging in standing, sitting and supine positions, offering new dimensions in evaluating spine conditions. The addition of this tool underscores Stavya’s commitment to ethical care, transparency, and advancing patient outcomes.

Transforming Diagnostics with Open Standing MRI
Unlike conventional MRIs, which require patients to lie flat for higher-resolution imaging, the Open Standing Esaote’s MRI allows for weight-bearing assessments of the spine. This machine is particularly suited to dynamic evaluations of conditions such as scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, and spinal instability. For patients with claustrophobia or anxiety about traditional MRI machines, the Open Standing MRI provides a more comfortable and open environment. Additionally, this technology can also be used to image the knee and hip in weight-bearing positions, offering valuable insights into joint health.

Dr. Mirant Dave, Spine Surgeon at Stavya, explained, “Our diagnostic philosophy is rooted in understanding how the spine functions under real-life conditions. The Open Standing Esaote’s MRI helps us evaluate the behavior of the spine under load, which is invaluable when determining whether a condition requires surgical intervention or can be managed conservatively. This is another step in our mission to deliver ethical, evidence-based care.” The Open Standing MRI is an essential tool for conditions where dynamic, functional imaging is critical.

Advanced Spine Care at Stavya
Stavya Spine Hospital has set itself apart as a center of excellence for spine care, combining cutting-edge technology, expert medical professionals, and a patient-first philosophy. As the only hospital in India exclusively dedicated to spine care, Stavya offers a comprehensive range of advanced treatments and diagnostics:
• Robotics in Spine Surgery: Revolutionizing complex procedures with enhanced precision and minimal risk.
• Endoscopic Spine Surgery: Delivering minimally invasive solutions for faster recovery and reduced discomfort.
• German Advanced Physiotherapy: Employing structured, evidence-based rehabilitation techniques for long-term recovery.
These technologies and techniques have been meticulously integrated into Stavya’s framework to provide a holistic approach to spine care. Every patient’s journey—from diagnosis to treatment and rehabilitation—is tailored to their specific needs, ensuring optimal outcomes and long-term spine health.

Dr. Bharat Dave, Director and Spine Surgeon, remarked, “At Stavya, we have always prioritized integrating the best of technology, talent, and treatment methods to provide our patients with comprehensive spine care. The Open Standing MRI complements this approach, helping us better understand and treat conditions that require dynamic imaging.”

The Team of Experts at Stavya
Stavya Spine Hospital prides itself on its team of highly skilled spine surgeons and physiotherapists who are dedicated to providing the best care. The surgical team includes:
• Dr. Bharat Dave
• Dr. Mirant Dave
• Dr. Ajay Krishnan
• Dr. Hitesh Modi
• Dr. Shivanand Mayi
• Dr. Raviranjan Rai
• Dr. Mukesh Patel
• Dr. Devanand Degulmadi

Together, this team brings decades of experience and expertise in managing complex spine conditions through advanced surgical techniques and ethical decision-making. The team’s collaborative approach ensures every patient receives the most effective care, whether surgical or conservative.

Stavya also boasts a world-class physiotherapy team, led by Dr. Akruti Dave, that works in close coordination with the surgeons to create comprehensive rehabilitation plans. Their focus is on ensuring patients regain optimal mobility and strength, whether recovering from surgery or managing their condition through conservative means.

Physiotherapy and Spine Health Checkups
Physiotherapy is a cornerstone of spine care, and Stavya emphasizes its role in both surgical and non-surgical treatment plans. Tools like the Open Standing MRI are invaluable for understanding a patient’s functional limitations and tailoring rehabilitation programs accordingly.

Dr. Akruti Dave, Head of Physiotherapy, shared, “Physiotherapy plays a vital role in improving patient outcomes. The Open Standing MRI helps us assess the mechanical and functional aspects of the spine more effectively, which is essential in designing personalized recovery plans. It also enhances our ability to help patients who are pursuing conservative care options.”

In addition to rehabilitation, Stavya has introduced Spine Health Checkups, a comprehensive program aimed at early detection and prevention of spine-related issues. The Open Standing MRI plays a central role in these checkups by offering dynamic imaging that uncovers subtle abnormalities and helps guide proactive treatment.
Dr. Akruti Dave added, “Spine Health Checkups are critical for detecting problems early, especially in individuals with sedentary lifestyles, poor posture, or chronic back pain. The Open Standing MRI allows us to offer patients a detailed understanding of their spine health, enabling timely interventions that can prevent further complications.”

Two Decades of Trust and Global Impact
Stavya Spine Hospital has built a legacy of trust over 20 years, treating thousands of patients from across India and the world. Patients turn to Stavya not only for its advanced technology but also for the hospital’s unwavering commitment to ethical, patient-first care.
In addition to its clinical impact, Stavya has been instrumental in training over 100 spine surgeons, many of whom now practice internationally. This focus on education and mentorship has helped Stavya contribute to the global advancement of spine care, ensuring its expertise reaches far beyond the hospital’s walls.

A Vision for the Future: Asia’s Largest Exclusive Spine Hospital
Looking to the future, Stavya is preparing to launch a new Center of Excellence in 2025, which will be the largest exclusive spine hospital in Asia. This landmark facility will expand Stavya’s capabilities, featuring advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies, increased capacity for patient care, and dedicated spaces for research and education. This project underscores Stavya’s ambition to remain at the forefront of spine care globally.
Mrs. Amita Dave, Managing Director, stated, “As we prepare for this new chapter, our focus remains on maintaining the trust of our patients. The Open Standing MRI is more than just a new diagnostic tool—it reflects our values of transparency, ethics, and a commitment to providing the most appropriate care for each individual.”

The Value of Transparency in Diagnostics
At Stavya, transparency is central to its care philosophy. The introduction of the Open Standing MRI is no exception. By openly sharing the specifications and purpose of this tool, Stavya ensures patients understand its role in their diagnostic journey.

Dr. Preety Krishnan, Radiologist, explained, “The Open Standing MRI is an important tool for specific spine conditions that require imaging in natural, weight-bearing positions. It’s ability to provide functional insights into the spine’s behavior is invaluable for certain diagnoses. This transparency helps patients feel confident and informed about their care.”

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Time is a very crucial thing; it teaches us the wisdom of life. Along with experiences through which people gather the wisdom of life, the one thing that also comes is a malady. As human beings grow older, the disorders seem to creep through the spine and make one crumble in pain. Doing simple things, such as walking and climbing stairs, can be a problem. In such cases hiring an experienced individual from a home care agency will be imperative.

Also read : Worried about winter joint pains? 

A brief idea of caregivers

Adult children who have made many sacrifices in life for the prospect of their children, mostly spend their senor life away, far fare from their near ones.  A caregiver can be the savior of the soul as they are the one who takes care of the care the adult children and helps them to release the burden from them. The caregivers are the one who tirelessly allows the senior people to carry out the works of regular domesticity. Before getting into the details, you must know a fundamental difference between a nurse and a caregiver.

Nurses are licensed to perform a specific skilled activity such as tub bathing, feeding, giving infusions and many more. A nurse needs a strict educational requirement; this means any nurse will have to take nursing classes and get a license before landing on this job. On the other hand, a caregiver is beings who help in doing things with the senior people. They also live with them provides them with unending companionship. You must never expect any medical duties to be performed by them; instead, you can expect some personal touch, a pat on the back, something humanitarian to live life.

Types of caregivers

Before you step into any final commitment, it will be imperative to have a clear idea about the caregivers and the types you can mostly get based on the duty hours and kind of duties they execute. The types of caregivers are mentioned below.

1.A private-duty caregiver: Private-duty caregivers are beings who are hired through an agency. These caregivers are tied with a bond from the agency you hire them from. Hiring private-duty caregiver is imperative as you can expect a backup caregiver if the hired one fails to make a shift.

2.Family caregiver: You must know that family caregivers are those individuals who are members of the family choose to take care of their loved ones. These caregivers can be anyone; it can be the spouses, the children, or any family member.

3.Independent caregivers: Independent caregivers are also known as private caregivers, but you must not confuse them with private-duty caregivers. These caregivers may represent an agency, but once hired the family member, the caregivers become the liability of the house.

4.Respite caregivers: Respite caregivers are those who are hired when the family caregiver needs some rest. You can expect these caregivers to be a private-duty or an independent one.

Qualifications of caregiver

A caregiver’s qualification may vary from state to state; however, you can find a specific level commoner in all of them. Qualified agencies provide home nursing services in Bangalore that make sure employ each individual after a vigorous interview process. They also make sure to do a thorough psychometric test before engaging them in the service. However, you can expect a few qualities from a caregiver; these essential qualities are mostly to be polite, never to be cross, and have an abundance of patience.

A few benefits

As mentioned above, and it’s worth mentioning again that ageing comes with many ailments and obstacles, that can really tantalize life. It Is not always the medicine, but love and care they all need, so tiny humanitarian act can help them soothe the pain. Moreover, the ageing population is increasing, so hiring a qualified caregiver will help them live a peaceful life.

The bottom line

Caregivers may not be medically trained, but the way they execute their duties with love is more than what doctors do. However, if you are considering hiring from an agency, it is suggested to do detailed research by typing nurse care at home near me about the background before making any final commitment.

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One of my friends, a very successful businessman in the US, has his aged mother in India. He was keen to take his mother with him to the US, but she was not ready to be away from her homeland. She wished for the cheerful company of peers with whom she could share her memories, feelings and leisurely time. Intending to fight her loneliness, my friend searched for engaging communities in Kerala to where she could belong.

The search went in vain because there were no such facilities in Kerala in those times. Fortunately, the scenario is different today with the establishment of many promising senior living communities. Community is where we find comfort during the difficult times in our lives. The power of communication and the ability to live in communities led us to where we are now. Yuval Noah Harari’s ‘Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind’ is one of those uniquely breath-taking books that talk about the evolution of humankind. The book delineates how the archaic humans loved, played, formed close friendships, and competed for status and power.

We began to cooperate flexibly in large groups with complex and versatile languages. If there is a secret to our success, it is because our brains develop to communicate. We have the power to cooperate effectively in large groups. As Harari puts it, “Sapiens can cooperate in extremely flexible ways with countless numbers of strangers. That is why Sapiens rule the world.”

Most people want to be part of a community :

Most people want to be part of a community because there is something indescribably lovely about being part of a group. It is about some charming intangible things that, when shared, make individuals seem less lonely. As mentioned in religious scriptures across the globe, the primary purpose of life is to awaken to the essence of who we are.  The miracle of community is that it offers us the fire of affirmation and support to achieve this, even when it feels like having no fire within us.

The needs of the elderly are not only economical but also social, psychological, and physical. Effective changes are required to ensure their social and psychological well-being. The word ‘community’ has a unique power to it. It conveys a sense of togetherness and positivity and implies belongingness and homeliness.

Lonely older people are more prone to illnesses:

As elders choose to be in their own houses, they eventually learn to live with loneliness. But it has a wounding effect on their physical, psychological, and cognitive health. Lonely older people are more prone to illnesses like hypertension and depression than others who live in communities. In addition to illnesses, the quality of life also declines.

In a well-designed community like retirement homes, the residents benefit from many factors that aid their overall well-being. This includes regular resident engagement activities that aim to maintain an active lifestyle in seniors. Residents who suffer from conditions like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s can use their specialized care and memory-boosting activities. Peer-to-peer support is another highlight of such communities, which is rare in similar settings. Common interest groups in these communities help elders to indulge in their favourite passions.

Also Read: PARKINSON DISEASE AND THE AGEING INDIAN POPULATION 

At retirement homes, healthy and homely food is served in a common dining room to help the members bond. The food served will be overseen by experts who follow nutritionists’ directions to satisfy the elders’ special dietary needs. Such communities have premium amenities and programs such as yoga, physiotherapy, meditation, and regular exercise sessions to follow a fitness regime.

Communities living together are healthier

Retiring from work is in every individual’s plans, but one must never retire from life. Communities living together are healthier, happier, and safer. Such communities having professional support only makes the situation better for the people residing. This implies that seniors can live with utmost dignity and happiness, and their family members can be rest assured about their physical and mental state. While living with people of their age and experience, senior citizens can make up for the time they lost working and engaged in daily chores.

Community living allows senior citizens to live a life of dignity and respect, with comfort and convenience, companionship, and quality of life, all under one roof. The feeling of safety and security is a cherry on top. Considering that many elders can afford to live a good quality of life even in their old ages, it is unfortunate that most of them miss making the right choice. Future is about self-love and care that will inspire more senior citizens to choose the right decision to live in communities for their goodness.

Anuchandran Nair

Managing Director of Season Two Senior Living

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 “Till death do us apart” .. is a very common phrase used by lovers at weddings. But if we try to think about it, the truth behind the phrase is a little scary. To die we have to age and ageing is something most of us are afraid of, as it brings with it the most dreadful: frailty and diseases.

So what exactly is ageing and why is it the main reason for mortality? Most of us believe that ageing is universal, inevitable and inescapable. But, if ageing is universal to all individuals, why are some people ageing faster than others? Why is your friend from college, looking younger or older than you, despite being the same age? How are Bollywood and Hollywood actors at 50-60 years of age able to pull off the vitality of a 30-year-old? And why do we keep saying that “Age is just a number.”?

The phenomenon of ageing is defined as the accumulation of anatomical and physiological alterations that happen to us over a while. Our productivity and metabolic functioning slowly start deteriorating as we grow older and continue till our death, unless, we control it. It is just like a car. If you take care of and maintain it, the car might work fine for a decade, but if you are not very good at it, you might end up with a broken engine within 3 years.

These alterations are not linear or continuous, but they are merely tangentially related to a user’s chronological age. The variety seen as people become older is not spontaneous. Aside from physiological changes, ageing is frequently linked to other transition periods such as retiring, moving to more suitable housing, and the demise of family members and friends.

Types of Ageing

Each one of us ages at our own pace. Sometimes we may appear to be ageing quite quickly, whereas others appear to age somewhat more slowly. We have all met somebody who looks to be considerably younger—or older—than they are for the first time. As living beings, we have two types of ageing: chronological as well as biological.

Chronological Age

1. Chronological age refers to the actual amount of time in terms of the number of years, months, and days since birth. These numbers do not change, whatever the lifestyle or food habits of a person. Chronological age has nothing to do with what you do in everyday life, what you eat, or where you live, and most importantly cannot tell anything about your life expectancy. It is irreversible

Biological Age

The physiological aspect of ageing is known as biological age. You may celebrate your birthday; however, your cells do not. Your tissues, organs, and blood reflect your “phenotypic age,” often known as your biological age, with little regard for your chronological age. It usually depends upon lifestyle factors, including exercise, diet and sleeping habits, and an individual’s genetics. If your biological age is lower than your actual age, it signifies that your body is ageing more healthily than normal.

Our biological age can indeed be substantially greater (or shorter) in comparison to our chronological age, relying on our lifestyle as well as genetic makeup and it can be reversible!

How to Optimise the Biological Age?

It is possible to slow down or reverse ageing by adopting a holistic approach to longevity and not just focusing on a healthy lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle consists of some of the most basic parameters like incorporating a healthy diet, adequate exercise, ample rest and a good work-life balance to manage stress, etc. However, these are not enough for healthy ageing and longevity, in the long run. One must approach this with a focus on preventive measures based on scientific research and predictive health screening. Some of the latest innovations in the area include:

1. Addressing hallmarks of ageing through biohacking: There are 10 underlying reasons why your body age (AKA hallmarks of ageing) as identified by the scientific literature. The most optimized approach towards healthy ageing or slowing down the damage caused by ageing is to target these hallmarks of ageing.

2. Taking the Right Supplements to counter cellular signs of ageing: Our diets are based on what’s available locally and not what our body needs. Natural co-enzymes  and herbal extracts are now backed by research to directly target hallmarks of ageing. Hence, supplementing one’s body with such unique ingredients could directly assist in slowing down the biological ageing process.

3. Include Senolytics to remove dying cells and keep tissues rejuvenated: Every cell becomes a zombie cell after dividing a certain number of times (AKA Senescent cells). Just like Zombies, these cells attack the healthy cells around them, creating cellular and tissue damage. Senolytic agents are compounds that can selectively target and destroy senescent or zombie cells, helping your tissues rejuvenate and maintaining the health of ‘young cells’

4. Tracking various health and disease biomarkers through digital health devices, and microbiome tests, amongst others: Wearables that can track various health markers are now commonly available in the market and can be used to track vitals to design personalized protocols. It is not only necessary to understand how your body works, but how the microorganisms living inside you are involved. Fortunately, there are science-based advanced tests to understand the functioning of these microorganisms too, called microbiome tests.

All of our lives, we have been saying “that age is just a number”, and yet it becomes one of the key defining aspects of everyone’s life. The modern science of Longevity has given us a new perspective to measure age, i.e. Biological age, and there is no better way to define the health of the entire body than this. Such an understanding of ageing answers multiple questions like “Why are we ageing faster than our friends”, “When will I become prone to chronic diseases”, and even “How old am I really?”. It is time we start re-imagining age to go beyond just biological terms, and factor in the chronological aspect as well. This change in perspective can help in not only understanding the unique needs of our bodies and the possibility of even reversing age.

Also Read: Well-being of seniors citizens – how can you contribute?

Mr. Darshit Patel
Chief Scientific Officer

The post Age is just a number and can we slow down or reverse ageing? appeared first on Health Vision.

All living beings including humans live in their environment by constantly interacting with it. Numerous changes of various types happen in their environment constantly and the living beings need to change themselves in order to survive and thrive. It is quite systematic that they are continuously receiving information about these changes taking place in their physical environment. It is possible due to the presence of sensory systems in the living beings.

The changes in photic and radiant energy, vibratory energy, chemical and mechanical energy impact the sensory system of living beings though selectively depending upon the intensity of these changes as well the inherent capacity of sensory systems.  When the intensity of these changes is sufficient enough, i.e., above a threshold value, we call it, stimulus, the sensory system shall receive it and the information regarding the changes in physical energy is transmitted to the organism. It happens after a series of transformations taking place within the organisms so that sensory receptors are activated.

It is very interesting to note that as we ascend on the evolutionary ladder, this sensory system becomes more complex, efficient and varied as it responds to variety of physical changes taking place in the environment. Such system not only communicates information efficiently but primes the organism to respond effectively to the changes in the environment. This stimulus – response mechanism is key to the interdependent relationship between the environment and organism. When an appropriate response is made to the stimuli, it is considered to be the adjustment, i.e., contributing to the survival of the organisms.

Hearing impairment

Hearing impairment is one of the most common chronic health conditions in the world. The recent study has proved that  Hearing loss reduces the quality and quantity of couple communication. Considering the centrality of communication between spouses, a person’s hearing loss may negatively affect the relationship. Communication problems manifest  themselves through constant repetitions and misunderstandings. The broad aim of this study is to explore the role of hearing impairment in marital adjustment in elderly couples.

A total of 120 couples between the age ranges of 60 to 80 years came to Audiology clinic for routine check-up at SGT Hospital, Gurugram. The total population was divided into three different groups i.e., Group A (Experimental group I), Group-B (Experimental group II) and Group C (control group). Group A was further subdivided into A-I and A-II whereas Group B was subdivided into B-I and B-II.  Univariate analysis, ANOVA followed by post-hoc Duncan’s were used to estimate the effects of the hearing impairment of the self/partner on marital adjustment and mental health of subjects and their partners with and without hearing aids. All the 3 groups, i.e.; groups with normal hearing, hearing impairment and hearing impairments with hearing aids were selected for the study.

First of all, descriptive statistics was used followed by ANOVA and post-hoc analysis. The result shows that the main effect of group, i.e., (individual with hearing impairment with hearing aids, hearing impairment, normal hearing, was found to be significant (p<0.001) on mental health score. The result shows that the main effect of group, i.e., (individual with hearing impairment with hearing aids, hearing impairment, normal hearing, was found to be significant (p<0.001) on marital adjustment score.

Marital adjustment of individuals with hearing impairment was significantly poor adjustment than normal hearing, hearing impairment with hearing aid was also close to normal hearing. Whereas, the marital adjustment of hearing impairment was found to be worst than hearing impairment with hearing aids. Marital adjustment of partners with hearing impairment was significantly poor adjustment than normal hearing, hearing impairment with hearing aid was also close to better adjustment as well as in normal hearing. Whereas, the marital adjustment of hearing impairment was found to be worse than hearing impairment with hearing aids.

On the basis of the findings of the present study, the following conclusion can be drawn:

1. The individuals with Hearing aid were having better marital adjustment as compared to individuals with hearing impairment. It shows that prescription of hearing aid is helpful for patients with hearing impairment to improve their marital adjustment.

2. Similarly, partners of individuals with Hearing aid were having better marital adjustment as compared to individuals with hearing impairment. It depicts that prescription of hearing aid is not only helpful for patients with hearing impairment but also for their partners to improve their marital adjustment.

Dr. Vivek Kumar Jha

Professor(Speech Pathology & Audiology)

Department of Audiology & Speech Language Pathology

Faculty of Behavioural Sciences

SGT University, Gurugram, Haryana

Email: jhavivek98@yahoo.com

Mob: 95602 76840

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 A journey of 100 miles begins with a single step, and that one step is as important as time. A study shows that a moderately active person takes around 7,500 steps/day. If one maintains that daily average and lives until 80 years of age, one would have walked about 21,62,62,500 steps in a lifetime. The average person with the average stride living until 80 will walk a distance of around 110,000 miles, which is the equivalent of walking about 5 times around the Earth, right on the equator! Well, that is what our knees are capable of doing.

How complex is the knee?

The knees are one of the largest and most complex joints of the human body which joins the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia). The smaller bone that runs alongside the tibia (fibula) and the kneecap (patella) are the other bones that make the knee joint. This complex part of the human body is necessary for all types of motor activity. The two C-shaped pieces of cartilage called the medial and lateral menisci act as shock absorbers between the femur and tibia.

Is knee problem common to all who are growing old? 

As one grows in age, it is normal for the knee to get worn out due to the continuous movement of the bones. The result of this would be joint pains, difficulty in sitting and getting up, trouble in walking, etc. Sometimes due to an injury as well, the knee could be hurt, resulting in severe pain. In such cases, medical assistance is strongly recommended.

What are some of the most common knee problems?

 The most common cause of chronic knee pain and disability is arthritis. Although there are many types of arthritis, most knee pain is caused by just three types: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and post-traumatic arthritis.

1.   Osteoarthritis

 Osteoarthritis is a situation where the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones wears down over time. This is seen in millions of people worldwide. The medical treatment that many orthopedics suggest is to go for knee replacement surgery. Of course, this comes as the last resort solution after the regular physiotherapyand  medications.

2.   Rheumatoid arthritis. 

This is a disease in which the synovial membrane that surrounds the joint becomes inflamed and thickened. This chronic inflammation can damage the cartilage and eventually cause cartilage loss, pain, and stiffness. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common form of a group of disorders termed “inflammatory arthritis.” This disease can affect even younger individuals and involve many joints like hands and feet. It is a type ofautoimmune disease where misdirected immune cells damage our organs, for example, joints.

3.   Post-traumatic arthritis. 

A severe knee injury causes this. Fractures of the bones surrounding the knee or tears of the knee ligaments may damage the articular cartilage over time, causing knee pain and limiting knee function.

Once discovered about the knee problem, what do I do next?

In determining whether a knee replacement is suitable for someone, an orthopedic surgeon assesses the knee’s range of motion, stability, and  you may require an x ray. However, the decision for aknee replacement depends on your age, how painful is your knee, limitaions of your daily acyivities due to knee pain and your willingness to undergo a surgery.

What are some of the reasons recommended for surgery?

• Severe knee pain or stiffness that limits everyday activities, including walking, climbing stairs, and getting in and out of chairs
• Moderate or severe knee pain while resting, either day or night
• Chronic knee inflammation and swelling that does not improve with rest or medications
• Knee deformity — a bowing in or out of the knee
• Failure to substantially improve with other treatments such as anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections, lubricating injections, physical therapy, or other surgeries.

When these symptoms are interfering in your daily life, a knee replacement may be recommended. Your general health and fitness to undergo an anaesthesia will be assessed with medical tests and images before surgery.

In recent times, knee replacement has been commonly observed in our society. Other than elderley increasing number of young individuals are also opting for knee replacements. The advanced technologies in medical sciences have paved the way to a better quality of life for these individuals lasting about two decades on average.

Dr Narayan Hulse
Director – Department of Orthopedics
Bone & Joint Surgery, Fortis Hospitals

The post FAQs on Knee Replacement and Aging: both sides of the same coin appeared first on Health Vision.

Aducanumab is a new drug for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease approved by FDA on 7 June 2021. It is a monoclonal antibody, one of the first disease modifying agents, that target the basic pathology or the hypothesised cause for Alzheimer’s disease.

It has got conditional FDA’s accelerated approval that means the company has to conduct another, may be so called phase IV clinical trial to verify the benefits. FDA can withdraw the drug if the trial fails to show clinical benefit.

For clinician like me, it is an exciting news of a drug approved for Alzheimer’s disease after nearly two decades, and first one targeting the pathology. I would eagerly wait for results of next suggested trial as FDA put it, before discussing the option with the clients. I would also be concerned over the pricing as it is anticipated to cost $56000 per year for package of recommended 14 treatments.

It is given Intravenous infusion approximately 4 weeks apart. Dizziness, confusion, headache & also hypersensitivity reactions are reported as adverse effects of this drug.

As per reports, this Monoclonal antibody targets and clears out the amyloid beta plaques & reduces it’s deposition, thus reducing the toxicity to the nerve cells. The studies found apparently significant reduction in the amount of Amyloid plaques compared to controls based on the PET Imaging studies. When the plaque deposits reduce, toxicity reduces, and so the cells do not degenerate & therefore available to function. Therefore one may expect reduced or less likely of the progression of the illness if it is successful in significant reduction in plaque deposits.

Previously in last 3 years, unfortunately, at least two similar monoclonal antibodies failed to show promising efficacy was disappointing. We eagerly hope it is going to make significant reduction in morbidity & reduces caregiver stress.

Dr. Vijay Kumar Harbishettar
MRCPsych, EX NIMHANS
NHS, Consultant Psychiatrist at Samvedna Senior Care

This is exciting development, this is the first medicine approved in 15 years. The available Treatment of Alzheimer’s has been insufficient in modifying the disease course. This medicine gives us a chance in theory, to reverse some of the causes of the disease.

It is still not available in India but we will have to keep looking at data that comes out of America to look at its efficacy and side effects.

Dr. Vipul Rastogi,
MRCPsych, Neuro Psychiatrist
EX NHS, Advisor Samvedna Senior Care.

The post Aducanumab : FDA approved new drug for the treatment of Alzheimer appeared first on Health Vision.

• A noticeable shift was observed with older adults talking about the benefits of attending online mental wellness sessions
• Increased fears about family members with comorbidities contracting the virus
• Growing comfort with support via telehealth

The onslaught of the first wave of the COVID pandemic caused the country to shut down in an effort to protect its citizens. In an effort to curb the deadly virus, a nationwide lockdown was implemented for approximately 3 months in 2020. Now, on the heels of the devastating second wave, we see an ebb, although slight, in the number of new cases. The second wave has led to a strain on the heavily unprepared healthcare system and has given rise to more fatalities. With the rise in the number of COVID-related fatalities, older adults are experiencing more mental health problems such as depression and health-related anxiety.

The First Wave

As part of an ongoing community engagement initiative with older adults, Samvedna had previously conducted a survey with adults aged (40 years and above) during the first wave of the pandemic to understand the impact of the lockdown, and the coping strategies they found useful.

Respondents were given a mental health screener in which 66% self-reported at least 2 health concerns that may warrant further evaluation. 86% of these individuals reported experiencing significant low mood and 83% said they found it difficult to find meaning in their daily activities and enjoy themselves. 58% also reported feeling under constant strain due to the lockdown and 33% reported having sleep difficulties.

Those who were trying to work from home reported feeling more strain than others as they were also concerned about financial difficulties and loss of income. Amongst other concerns that majorly impacted older adults during lockdown were concerns about the health and well-being of family members (57%) and personal health (28%). The strain of managing additional household work without adequate support, and overall difficulty in getting basic necessities were also problems highlighted by over one-third of respondents. 13% also reported an increase in family conflicts during the lockdown which impacted their sense of well-being.

Although 63% of respondents felt that speaking with friends/family about their worries would be helpful, only 22% mentioned considering speaking with a mental health professional. This highlights that the willingness of older adults to seek professional mental health support for themselves was incredibly low during the first wave of the pandemic.

The Second Wave

33% of respondents contacted again during the second wave, reported feeling depressed. The primary concern remained unchanged—the health and wellbeing of friends and family. However, they highlighted increased fears about family members with comorbidities contracting the virus, and reported difficulties managing emotional wellbeing, and faced challenges in helping younger family members manage their routines and follow basic COVID protocols.

Takeaways

A positive shift was noted over the past year with older adults talking about the importance of mental health and well-being. A noticeable shift was observed with their talking about the benefits of attending online mental wellness sessions and practicing yoga and or meditation.

Although as recently as a year ago, seniors were not as tech-savvy, this shift indicates a growing comfort with support via telehealth which is clearly the way forward and sheds light on a greater need for leveraging technology to support the emotional wellbeing of older adults during the lockdown and COVID restrictions.

Quotes from Interviews:

When asked about what will be helpful during the lockdown, a gentleman, age 83, interviewed mentioned, “If you have somebody who is there to check up on you, or contact you through WhatsApp and tell you that it’s ok, that will help older people a lot… Every individual needs some support group so that they are not in isolation. Just to keep an eye.”

Another, senior citizen, mentioned, “One thing that needs to be done very strongly is that older adults have to be told to remain positive, that would greatly help, and not to worry too much. You have to maintain your positive outlook.”

Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Jayashree Dasgupta, Co-Founder and Project Director, Samvedna Senior Care says,  “Although awareness about mental health issues remains low, it is heartening to see that older adults are becoming more open and talking about the challenges they face. Tele mental health programs specifically targeting older adults will play an important role in destigmatising seeking help for mental health issues whilst providing much needed emotional support during this pandemic.”

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The outbreak of COVID-19 was unprecedented and has badly affected all the age groups across the globe.  The elderly is at a greater risk, and those with pre-existing problems are most vulnerable. This pandemic has posed the greatest challenge in taking care of their physical and mental health.

Elderly people rely a lot on social connections. They also need helping hands in carrying out their daily chores. Their daily walks, chat sessions have all stopped due to this pandemic, which have made them even more anxious and lonely. As an organization our motto was to bridge these gaps and ensure uninterrupted services in taking care of their physical and mental health.

1. Preparing the elderly for pandemic: our first step was to make our elderly customers aware about this pandemic. We ensured they receive correct information and were able to handle themselves while being at home. We issued an advisory to the elderly and created exclusive Flu kits so that the common flu and cold could be easily managed at home.

2. Availability of specialist consultation for patients with other co-morbidities. Our team of specialists like cardiologist/urologist/neurologist were available on call for our elderly patients.

3. Emotional and moral support- we worked as a bridge between the elderly and their children who were away, by updating about their parent’s health through whatsapp, email & phone calls.

4. Our doctors were also instrumental in counselling the emotionally fragile patients and boosting their confidence. We helped them in seeking support from Psychiatrists/psychotherapist as and when required by arranging video consultations.

5. Home care services- we facilitated availability of qualified, trained and experienced home care attendants and nursing staff whenever required through our outsourced agencies. Our doctors supervised their care through home visits &whatsapp groups. We also continued home blood collections for these customers in addition to regular doctor & nurse home visits

6. Vaccination- Flu and Pneumonia shots were recommended and administered to protect them against other deadly infections

7. Easy to use medical devices and equipment- patients were encouraged to buy medical devices like pulse oximeter, BP monitoring device, glucometer, thermometer, oxygen concentrator etc. We trained them on their usage and their readings were monitored regularly. This helped us in planning their continuum of care more effectively.

8. COVID testing and management- we arranged RT-PCR testing at home through outsourced labs whenever suspected. In case of positive patients, we manage them at home through our home isolation services with close monitoring or even hospitalization as and when required.

9. We also checked the fitness of their helpers and maids before they joined duties. We did baseline investigations of these helpers along with physical examination and consultation by the general physician. We also conducted COVID antibody test and RT- PCR test as and when required

10. 24×7 Emergency Medical Services- in addition to regular center consults and home visits, out team efficiently responded to medical emergencies by home stabilization or hospitalization whenever necessary. Our strong connect with a vast consultant network and tie-ups with ambulance services ensured in timely transport arrangements and availability of hospital bed during the crisis services.

Dr. Kushilab Bose – Director
Medical Operations –  Healthspring

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Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a type of nervous system disorder which affects movement along with the ability to perform daily common activities. PD tends to slowly damage the central nervous system, comprising of the brain and the spine thus affecting the motor system of the patient’s body.

• The incidence and prevalence of PD increases with advancing age (mostly 65 and above). Most commonly, this condition exhibits itself after the age of 50 yrs, but in some rare cases, it can affect people of younger age group as well.
• 1% of people over the age of 65 years suffers from PD (estimated about 12 lac Indians living with PD in India)
• PD is twice as common in men than in women in most populations (1 women for every 3 men impacted)
• Certain gene variations appear to increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease but with a relatively small risk of Parkinson’s disease for each of these genetic markers.

Risk factors

Exact causes of PD are unknown, but some cases are often triggered by natural and other factors that tend to play a critical role in the development of the condition. Repeated head injuries, improper diet including significant amount of exposure to pesticides or solvents, sedentary lifestyles are some of the risk factors.

Manifestation/Early Signs

As mentioned above, there are a wide range of symptoms related to PD but motor symptoms are more prominent and common in patients with PD. Amongst many, the most common symptoms include;

Tremor or a form of shaking in the patient’s body, Rigid muscles or stiffness, Impaired posture or balance, Slowness of movement, Trouble with coordination with any kind of movement, Changes in speech and writing (becoming slower while speaking or writing or even stammering).

Other than motor symptoms, a person with PD might also experience non- motor symptoms which include Anxiety, Depression, Sleep problems such as insomnia, Constipation, Weight loss & Fatigue.

Although these are common symptoms of PD, but it is important to note that, these symptoms can vary from person to person. Moreover, these symptoms change over a period of time and emerge differently in different people.

Other common symptoms include mood changes, including depression, difficulty chewing and swallowing, problems with urination, constipation, skin problems & sleep problems.

Diagnosis

There are no set of specific tests that exist to diagnose PD. A neurologist generally reviews symptoms and relevant medical history of the patient to either rule out the possibility of PD or suggest therapies/measures to cope with it.

Management

PD manifests itself in five different stages, starting from the mildest and leading up to the most severe.

• Some medical treatments that might be advised by neurologists to their patients include medications to increase or substitute levels of dopamine in their body and help patients manage basic movement and improper posture.
• Changes in lifestyle can enable living with PD easier which includes regular physical activity which would keep them, and their motor skills engaged, adopting a healthy lifestyle
• Paying attention towards their mental health that includes eating healthy and nutritious food, to have a good sleep cycle and any kind of physical activity.
• Massages, Yoga and Meditation also helps patients to feel relaxed.
• A Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery is advised by neurologists in some advanced cases of PD. In this surgery, surgeons implant a device into a specific part of the patient’s brain. That device is connected to a generator implant in the patient’s chest which sends electrical pulses to the brain and tends to reduce symptoms of PD in some cases.

Pay attention to Caregivers

It can be devastating for someone to live with a disease like PD which is progressive and erratic, where some people also experience anxiety and depression. At times like these, someone to hear them out or to have a shoulder to cry, can act as heartwarming gesture. Help encourage your loved ones to share their feelings, what they’re experiencing and ensuring that you are listening.

Parkinson’s disease can be managed well if identified at an early stage.

Dr Reema N
Group Medical Director & COO
KITES Senior Care, Bangalore

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