E-Paper
Epilepsy most common neurological disorder
EMERITUS PROFESSOR of Neurology at Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (New Delhi), Prof M Gourie Devi said that epilepsy was among the most common neurological disorders in the society and around 6 to 8 people per thousand population suffer from this disorder in India.
EMERITUS PROFESSOR of Neurology at Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (New Delhi), Prof M Gourie Devi said that epilepsy was among the most common neurological disorders in the society and around 6 to 8 people per thousand population suffer from this disorder in India.
She was delivering the keynote address at the inaugural function of the two-day Brain Awareness programme at Zoology Department in Banaras Hindu University here today afternoon. Centre of Advanced Study at the Zoology department in association with National Brain Research Centre (Haryana), an autonomous institute of the Biotechnology Department, Government of India has organised the programme.
Prof Gaurie Devi, also former director of National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Bangalore) said, an estimated 10 million people were suffering from epilepsy in the country. She said that epilepsy occurs in all ages due to excessive electrical discharge from the brain. She further added that epilepsy is a curable disease and around 80 per cent victims of this disease can lead a normal life after proper treatment.
Coordinator of the programme, Prof MK Thakur, established the theme of the programme and said that the Centre of Advanced Study of BHU was focusing on ageing of brain. He said that the ageing of brain results into several changes in its structure which at a later stage leads to different diseases such as Parkinson and Alzheimer’s etc.
Prof Thakur said, as the number of old age people was increasing in the world there will be more old age people in future and therefore intensive research was required to counter brain related problems in old age. It is for the first time that brain awareness programme is being organised in Varanasi.
He said brain awareness programme was organized worldwide to increase awareness about the progress, future and benefits of brain research.
He further added that despite the enormous progress in tools and technology, very little is understood about the brain — the most complex vital organ in the body— and therefore such interaction was a must to understand the behavior of the human brain.
