Mikhail Aghajanov, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Head of the Department of Biochemistry of Yerevan State Medical University after Mkhitar Heratsi, who create the Armenian Alzheimer’s Association 20 years ago, predicts that Alzheimer’s disease would soon become a big challenge for our country as well as for the whole world.
Under the leadership of Aghajanov, the full member of the European and Russian Academies of Natural Sciences, the Chair of Biochemistry of YSU and Armenian scientists, have been studying Alzheimer’s disease for several decades, looking for ways to prevent the disease through various experiments. As a result, after long trials, the drug “Epom” is offered today, which is already in use and has proven its viability. According to Dr. Aghajanov, the distinguished figure of science of Armenia, the persons who receive an annual injection of the mentioned drug are quite actively engaged in mental work. Armenian specialists hope that in the near future they will be able to produce the drug for large markets.
Being born in the family of a doctor, having graduated from the medical faculty, my interlocutor could not break away from biochemistry, devoting half a century to his favorite work. Talking about the secrets of his longevity, he says: “I didn’t have a special goal to live long, there was just not a day that I didn’t work, I have been doing sports since I was a student, I had some success at our university. Even now, I do sports at home, I try to pass on my formula for a healthy lifestyle to my family members and grandchildren.”
Emphasizing the process of early prevention of Alzheimer’s disease through the Montreal test, Professor Aghajanov says that the earlier the disease is detected, the more effectively it is managed.
The professor advises those over 60 to find a serious occupation and be responsible for something, necessarily be somewhat restless, because a long-term calm state is not very good. A person should not panic when retiring, but have an interesting occupation. “Backgammon is a good thing, but it’s not enough, a person should find a serious job that will make the brain work,” the scientist explains, pointing to learning new languages, doing calculations, etc. as a new occupation. According to him, all this keeps the 6 billion neurons in the human brain active and working, the activation of inter-neuronal connections ensures the uninterrupted functioning of the brain. Professor Aghajanov also emphasizes that bad habits such as smoking, drinking, and a sedentary lifestyle should be completely abandoned.
“Alzheimer’s disease currently has no cure, but many people have this problem and they live next to us, and they need to be taught how to maintain their quality of life. Relatives should also be aware of how to deal with the patient,” says the scientist, adding that it is extremely important to be optimistic.
The professor, despite his respectable age, possesses the most recent data on the subject in the world. More than 50 million people in the world today have Alzheimer’s disease, one patient is diagnosed every three seconds, and by 2050 the number of patients is expected to reach 100 million.
