Communicating advances in brain research will be the focus of Brain Awareness Week (BAW), which runs in South Africa from 15 - 21 March 2004. The treatment and care of dementia, brain injuries and psychiatric disorders will be highlighted by means of various activities during the week.
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"The brain is something really quite special," said Prof Mark Solms, a prominent neuropsychologist and lecturer at the University of Cape Town's psychology department at the launch of BAW.
"It is made up of cells that are not fundamentally different. Yet, there is obviously something utterly unique and magical about the brain's cells," Solms said as part of his keynote address. The tragedy is that if this organ is damaged, "your very self is altered".
The aim of BAW
Brain Awareness Week, which is an international event, was first launched in 1996. Last year 56 countries took part in this endeavour that is aimed at achieving the following:
Informing the public of the importance and benefits of brain research,
Making known the advances made in the treatment and rehabilitation of brain-related diseases,
Addressing the stigma attached to such conditions, and
Stimulating an interest in the neurosciences amongst young future researchers.
Health24 will play an active role in promoting BAW. We will host the first ever, online comprehensive psychiatric screening tool which will help people to identify whether they may have difficulties in certain areas. We will also feature various articles on psychiatric disorders, a support group guide and links to relevant websites.
Media launch covers several aspects
Solms emphasised the importance of empowering people to improve the lives of patients who have suffered brain injuries or who are suffering from brain disease. He proceeded to tell the audience about a case study, in which he treated a brain-injured patient who suffered from severe confabulation – the invention of circumstantial but fictitious detail about events supposed to have occurred in the past.
Karen Borochowitz, who is affiliated to Alzheimer's South Africa, gave a moving account of her experiences of caring for her mother, an Alzheimer's patient. A patient who has suffered brain injuries due to accidents briefly spoke about his experiences, which highlighted the promise of advances in the neurosciences.
According to a press release by Dr Frans Hugo from the Panorama Memory Clinic, head injuries are the most common form of brain injury in young adults. Other forms of brain injury include stroke, brain infections and brain cancers. Motor vehicle accidents are the most common cause of head injuries. – (Carine van Rooyen, Health24)
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