Doctors and health experts in India have called on the country to introduce policies to deal with air pollution that they believe is a key factor in accelerating the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s, the most common type of dementia, is a progressive disease that can cause patients to lose the ability to recognise their surroundings, according to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease can eventually lead to death.
There are more than 55 million people with dementia worldwide, at least 60 per cent of whom live in low and middle-income countries, the World Health Organisation says.
Nearly 10 million new cases a year are reported, the WHO estimates.
On World Alzheimer’s Day observed on September 21 for a month, Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), a non-profit international federation of Alzheimer’s and dementia associations from around the world, released its report Reducing dementia risk: never too early, never too late on Wednesday.
It draws on insights from about 90 researchers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, people living with dementia and informal carers.
It says that while research shows people can develop dementia for decades before symptoms become apparent, reducing exposure to risk factors can delay, slow or even prevent projected dementia cases.
“Research increasingly shows that dementia can be delayed or even prevented by targeting our lifestyle choices such as exercise, diet, and social connections; also, it is never too late to correct hearing loss,” says Louise Robinson, professor of primary care and ageing at Newcastle University and co-chairwoman of ADI’s medical and scientific advisory panel.
Referring to a study by The Lancet, the report says inactivity, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, depression and hearing impairment are some of the factors linked to the condition.
But one of the key points it highlights is air pollution, which is linked to a higher risk of dementia.
The report says the danger comes from fine particulate matter known as PM 2.5 – the finest dust and other harmful particles measuring less than 2.5 microns that penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, leading to respiratory and cardiac diseases.
Prof Roxana Carare of the University of Southampton, who sits on the British government’s committee on the medical effects of air pollutants, told the ADI the idea that the particles enter the brain directly is far less likely than the cardiovascular route.
She said the soluble elements of the particles enter the bloodstream and affect the walls of blood vessels, making them less efficient in fulfilling their function of clearing the brain of waste – such as amyloid plaques, essentially malformed proteins in the brain that accumulate with age.
“That would explain why air pollution is linked both to Alzheimer’s and to vascular dementia,” Prof Carare said.
The report is particularly concerning for Indians, as the country of 1.4 billion has 39 of the world's 50 most polluted cities, according to the Swiss firm IQAir in its World Air Quality Report released in March.
New Delhi is the most polluted capital city in the world where the pollution levels continue to hover over safe limits.
The city’s PM 2.5 levels were at an average of 99.71 micrograms per cubic metre last year. The WHO considers five micrograms per cubic metre as the safe level of exposure to particulate pollution.
More than 3.8 million people are living with dementia in India, with this expected to rise above 11.4 million by 2050, a concerning increase of 197 per cent, the ADI said.
“Pollution is a risk factor as a day of pollution is equivalent to smoking more than 20 cigarettes a day and reduced oxygenation in brain … the exposure to pollution has been associated with higher risk of developing dementia in various peer-reviewed scientific research studies," Dr Manjari Tripathi, professor of neurology at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences, told The National.
Those views were echoed by Dr Hamed Al Sinawi, who is a consultant psychiatrist specialising in ageing and the chairman of the Alzheimer’s Society.
“According to recent studies, people living in areas with high levels of a certain kind of air pollution have a greater risk of dementia,” he told The National.
Experts blame a lack of policy in dealing with pollution as a challenge in controlling the risk of the condition.
Meera Pattabiraman, chairwoman of ADI in India, urged the government to focus on policy-making to prevent case numbers from rising “astronomically”.
“Our government doesn’t have a plan and policy for dementia. The way to look at it is to reduce the risk of dementia, which is critical for us considering the population and the most polluted country,” Ms Pattabiraman said.
“We need to handle the situation of environment pollution so the air is better and the future generation doesn’t get dementia.
"If we don’t tackle the pollution now, our numbers will go haywire. While other factors are related to lifestyle, we cannot do anything about pollution individually. The government has a bigger role to play."
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
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The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Fixtures (all in UAE time)
Friday
Everton v Burnley 11pm
Saturday
Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur 3.30pm
West Ham United v Southampton 6pm
Wolves v Fulham 6pm
Cardiff City v Crystal Palace 8.30pm
Newcastle United v Liverpool 10.45pm
Sunday
Chelsea v Watford 5pm
Huddersfield v Manchester United 5pm
Arsenal v Brighton 7.30pm
Monday
Manchester City v Leicester City 11pm
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Tank warfare
Lt Gen Erik Petersen, deputy chief of programs, US Army, has argued it took a “three decade holiday” on modernising tanks.
“There clearly remains a significant armoured heavy ground manoeuvre threat in this world and maintaining a world class armoured force is absolutely vital,” the general said in London last week.
“We are developing next generation capabilities to compete with and deter adversaries to prevent opportunism or miscalculation, and, if necessary, defeat any foe decisively.”
Types of policy
Term life insurance: this is the cheapest and most-popular form of life cover. You pay a regular monthly premium for a pre-agreed period, typically anything between five and 25 years, or possibly longer. If you die within that time, the policy will pay a cash lump sum, which is typically tax-free even outside the UAE. If you die after the policy ends, you do not get anything in return. There is no cash-in value at any time. Once you stop paying premiums, cover stops.
Whole-of-life insurance: as its name suggests, this type of life cover is designed to run for the rest of your life. You pay regular monthly premiums and in return, get a guaranteed cash lump sum whenever you die. As a result, premiums are typically much higher than one term life insurance, although they do not usually increase with age. In some cases, you have to keep up premiums for as long as you live, although there may be a cut-off period, say, at age 80 but it can go as high as 95. There are penalties if you don’t last the course and you may get a lot less than you paid in.
Critical illness cover: this pays a cash lump sum if you suffer from a serious illness such as cancer, heart disease or stroke. Some policies cover as many as 50 different illnesses, although cancer triggers by far the most claims. The payout is designed to cover major financial responsibilities such as a mortgage or children’s education fees if you fall ill and are unable to work. It is cost effective to combine it with life insurance, with the policy paying out once if you either die or suffer a serious illness.
Income protection: this pays a replacement income if you fall ill and are unable to continue working. On the best policies, this will continue either until you recover, or reach retirement age. Unlike critical illness cover, policies will typically pay out for stress and musculoskeletal problems such as back trouble.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
MATCH INFO
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Wales 2 (Moore 10', Wilson 34')
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
