In an effort to raise public awareness of a disease that is increasingly prevalent throughout the nation as the population ages, the Taipei City Government’s Department of Health yesterday released a 30-minute short film featuring an elderly person with dementia who struggles to regain happiness in life and get along with people around him.
Citing statistics compiled by the Ministry of Health and Welfare last year, Department of Health Commissioner Lin Chi-hung (林奇宏) said there were an estimated 190,000 people with dementia in the nation and presumably, 10 percent of them live in Taipei.
“However, only 400 people have been officially diagnosed, particularly because some of them are unaware of their condition ... and never undergo dementia screening,” Lin said.
Jogging with Grandpa (慢跑爺爺) was directed by Taiwanese filmmaker Chang Yu-le (張羽樂) and funded by the department.
The short film premiered at a press conference hosted by the Taiwan Catholic Foundation of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia yesterday. It can also be viewed on YouTube.
It centers on the life of an elderly man who lives with his granddaughter, nicknamed Hsiao Chiu (小秋), and whose early symptoms of dementia greatly frustrate his family and himself.
With encouragement from his granddaughter, the protagonist decides to fight to achieve his lifelong dream — appearing on TV. He succeeded when he participated in a Superman-themed marathon and is captured by a news camera.
To improve their condition and increase their quality of life, people with dementia are urged to adopt a “3-2-1 Principle,” which encourages them to prepare three Mediterranean-style meals that are rich in vegetables and low in meat each day, exercise at least twice a week and to attend a social event at least once a week, doctors and healthcare officials said.
Mediterranean-style diets have been linked to improving brain health in several studies, officials said.
Taipei City Hospital Renai Branch’s Division of Neurology head Yan Sui-hing (甄瑞興) said that while dementia was not curable, the onset of symptoms could be delayed by engaging in mentally stimulating exercises and maintaining interpersonal relationships.
“Doing volunteer work is advised. So is criticizing the government and politicians while watching political talk shows,” Yan said.
Cardinal Tien Hospital neurologist Liu Yi-chien (劉議謙) encouraged seniors to adopt a healthy diet, create a regular exercise routine and improve their personal relationships with others to prevent dementia.
“As an amateur marathon runner, I often tell my patients that it is vital for them to conduct physical activities regularly if they want to maintain a sharp mind,” Liu said.
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