{
  "id": 19520205,
  "title": "Rethinking how we age: why brain health matters",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/rethinking-how-we-age-why-brain-health-matters-19520205",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-11T16:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/in-focus/2026/11/11/rethinking-how-we-age-why-brain-health-matters/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Discussions surrounding healthy ageing frequently center around the heart, physical mobility and management of chronic illnesses, neglecting a critical component of our being: the brain. This needs to change. Maintaining cognitive health and overall quality of life should be equally pivotal in our approach to aging well. The magnitude of this challenge is substantial. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 57 million individuals globally were grappling with dementia in 2021, with nearly 10 million new cases emerging annually. Alzheimer's disease emerges as the predominant form, representing an estimated 60 to 70 percent of cases. As populations grow older, the global burden is projected to escalate, imposing increasing burdens on healthcare systems, families, and caregivers. Alzheimer's is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that damages brain cells, progressively impacting memory, cognitive functions, communication, and the ability to perform daily activities. While it is not an inherent part of aging, it continues to pose one of the most significant obstacles to healthy longevity. Integrating brain health into everyday health conversations is thus not merely a medical imperative; it is essential to how we envision aging well.\n\nIn interviews with The National, Prof. Suhail Al Rukn, President of the Emirates Neurology Society (EMINS), and Shady Ibrahim, Executive Medical Director at Eli Lilly & Company (Lilly Gulf – UAE, Kuwait & Qatar), elucidated why brain health must be at the core of healthy aging. What obstacles impede the recognition and management of cognitive decline within society? One significant barrier is the pervasive silence surrounding the issue. Despite its increasing impact, cognitive decline can be challenging to discuss. Symptoms may be dismissed as natural aspects of growing older, concealed due to fear, or met with uncertainty regarding where to seek assistance. These insights warrant concern. When society perceives cognitive decline as an unavoidable fate — or assumes that nothing can be done — individuals may be less inclined to voice their concerns, seek medical advice, or access support.\n\nWhat must we do to alter this narrative? Encouraging earlier dialogues does not imply that every forgotten name or misplaced object should raise alarm. Nor does it suggest that individuals should self-diagnose. It means acknowledging persistent or progressive changes, discussing them without shame, and seeking appropriate professional evaluation.\n\nHow does Alzheimer's disease impact not only those diagnosed but also their families and caregivers? According to World Alzheimer Report on Attitudes to Dementia, over seven out of ten people with Alzheimer's are estimated to reside at home, with family and friends providing nearly three-quarters of their care. Behind every diagnosis lies a family adjusting to altered roles and bearing responsibilities that can be emotionally, physically, and financially taxing.\n\nWhat are the primary priorities for the UAE and the broader Gulf region as they navigate the evolving landscape of Alzheimer's research, treatment, and care? While scientific advancements are enhancing possibilities, they must be approached with both optimism and clinical responsibility. Novel treatment options are not universally applicable, and any decision should be personalized based on the disease stage, biological characteristics, and a thorough discussion of potential benefits and risks. Scientific progress underscores an important reality: innovation alone is insufficient. This is particularly pertinent as the UAE and Gulf region chart the future of healthy aging. We have a unique opportunity to embed brain health into this future—through public education, enhanced professional awareness, adequate diagnostic capabilities, and improved coordination throughout the patient journey.\n\nWhat steps are necessary to elevate brain health to a greater priority within the UAE’s healthcare system and wider society as the population ages? We should promote the idea that people should consider their brains as they do their hearts: as an integral part of lifelong health that warrants attention, informed choices, and appropriate medical care. Achieving meaningful progress will require more than the awareness generated during World Alzheimer's Month each September. Turning awareness into action necessitates system-level commitment. We should contemplate a national brain health policy that incorporates dementia risk reduction into existing chronic disease strategies; a national program for early detection of cognitive decline, akin to monitoring blood pressure, glucose, and hearing, integrated into routine primary care visits; and a center of excellence for memory and neurodegenerative care in each emirate, linked through unified referral pathways and standards. Families need the confidence to initiate these challenging conversations. Healthcare professionals must possess the requisite knowledge and pathways to respond. Communities must replace stigma with understanding. Health systems must prepare for ongoing scientific progress while ensuring that decisions remain evidence-based and centered on the individual. Healthy aging transcends the mere extension of years; it encompasses our ability to remain connected to the people, memories, and experiences that imbue those years with significance. That is why brain health must be an integral part of every conversation about living and aging well. This article was produced by The National in collaboration with Eli Lilly & Company.",
  "summary": "Conversations about healthy ageing often focus on the heart, mobility and the management of chronic conditions, leaving out the organ that shapes our memories, relationships, decisions and independence: the brain. That needs to change. Preserving cognitive health and quality of life should be just as central to how we approach ageing well. The scale of the challenge is considerable. According to…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}