(ANSA) - NAPLES, NOV 29 - Often forgetting the name of famous people or confusing the name of the streets with a certain continuity can be an indication of a possible early stage of a neurological pathology; therefore, it is necessary to catch these signals in time. The secret, once again, is called prevention, explains Dr. Gennaro Barbato, neurologist of the Sanitary District 33 of the Asl Napoli 1 Centro, scientific manager of the meeting scheduled for 10 and 11 December at Palazzo Alabardieri. The VII workshop of primary care neurology will, in fact, focus on the prevention, identification (and management) of early signs of diseases involving the brain, the role of specialists and general practitioners, analyzes on new pharmacological and examinations. more sophisticated.To combat pathologies such as Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease - Barbato trails - a correct diet based on the Mediterranean Diet, regular physical activity, good mental activity (favoring reading and cultivating interests), maintaining and increasing social relationships, sleeping well and adjust without upsetting the sleep / wake rhythm, manage stress.
Barbato explains: 'The outpatient neurologist is in a privileged position to be able to diagnose and manage patients with dementia and, therefore, with Alzheimer's disease, which is the most frequent form of dementia. The District Outpatient Clinic, the usual workplace of the outpatient neurologist, is completely immersed in the urban area, thus becoming, as such, easily accessible to users; this transforms that potential discomfort deriving from the idea of working so in contact with the citizens into a big advantage for the diagnosis. In fact, precisely because the site is easily accessible, the possibility of obtaining recent and 'first-hand' anamnestic information increases, that is, not only from the person concerned but from the family member, spouse or child and on events that occurred shortly before ".Another reason connected to the workplace is the close collaboration that is more easily established with the general practitioner.
Furthermore, the neurologists, whose training allows them to know neuroanatomy and neurobiology, emphasizes Dr. Barbato, "have greatly benefited from the introduction in the clinic of neurocognitive evaluation through sophisticated tests but also from the evolution of neurobig techniques. disease in these patients, already in the phase of MCI - Mild cognitive impairment, the mild cognitive deficit - and then following its evolution ". Recently, antiamyloid therapy with the drug aducanumab has been approved for patients who, in fact, are identified at a very early stage of the disease. Barbato continues: "Once the patient has been identified, the primary care neurologist in Naples can rely on the University Center at theAzienda Ospedaliera Vanvitelli which has ilprof as its main references. Gioacchino Tedeschi (department director) and prof.
Alessandro Tessitore, for the diagnostic confirmation even in the midst of a specific investigation (brain PET with amyloid) and for the subsequent antiamyloid therapy. lifestyle and the identification and modification of those factors that intervene as a contributing cause in the conversion of a mild cognitive deficit into a serious and compromising daily functioning disorder such as dementia.
These factors are metabolic diseases such as diabetes, a serious and particular depressive disorder and sleep disorders "concludes Dr. Barbato.
(ANSA).
