TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee informs Anonna Dutt about a rise in dementia cases and his efforts to address the issue in parliament.
In my capacity as an MP and a legal professional, I regularly interact with people from various backgrounds. It has come to my attention that there has been a noticeable increase in dementia cases, particularly following the pandemic. I have observed that even individuals who are typically very active are beginning to experience memory loss at younger ages. After reading about this issue, I felt compelled to raise it in parliament.
The response I received cited a Lancet paper, but the government has not provided a breakdown of the annual number of recorded cases or data on a state-by-state basis. It appears that the government may not have this information at all.
While addressing diabetes and hypertension is important, as they serve as the foundation for many other illnesses, I wanted to understand the government’s specific efforts to reduce the incidence of dementia. Without a comprehensive record of cases, it is unclear what measures are being taken for treatment and prevention.
I am not an expert on this matter. We need input from experts to guide our actions. If there is a disease affecting the country, it is the government’s responsibility to offer medical services and establish clinical institutes for its management.
Dementia can have a profound impact on people’s lives, especially for someone like me in the public eye. If I were to forget what I was discussing, it would hinder my professional functioning.
Anonna Dutt is a Principal Correspondent focusing primarily on health-related topics.
