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Every date 22 Julythe world warned World Brain Day (World Brain Day). In 2026, this commemoration has a theme “Brain Health: Access for All”which reminds us that brain health should be accessible to everyone regardless of age, economic status or place of residence. This theme is very relevant, because neurological disorders are now one of the main causes of disability in the world, while millions of people still have difficulty receiving adequate diagnosis and treatment.
In Indonesia, attention to brain health is also increasingly important. Changes in lifestyle, increasing life expectancy, and the improving ability of health workers to detect neurological disorders have made various brain diseases more common. Some diseases appear in childhood, while others attack more adults and the elderly.
When people hear the term “brain disease,” many people immediately imagine a stroke. In fact, brain disorders are much more diverse. There are neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD, cerebral vascular diseases such as stroke, and degenerative diseases such as dementia. All three have different causes, symptoms and impacts, but can both affect the sufferer’s quality of life.
The following are the 3 brain diseases that are most common in Indonesia and deserve more attention.
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1. ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulty maintaining attention, hyperactive behavior, and impulsive actions. This disorder is not caused by poor parenting or lack of discipline, but is related to the development and function of the brain, especially the parts that regulate attention, self-control and executive function.
In Indonesia, public awareness about ADHD continues to increase. More children are being screened from an early age so they can receive intervention more quickly. However, there are still many children who have not been diagnosed because their symptoms are considered simply “naughty”, “hyperactive”, or “difficult to manage”.
Symptoms of ADHD can include difficulty concentrating when studying, being easily distracted by sounds or objects around them, often forgetting to complete assignments, being unable to sit still for long periods, often interrupting other people’s conversations, and even acting without considering the consequences.
Interestingly, ADHD does not always disappear when someone enters adulthood. Many adults still have difficulty managing time, maintaining focus at work, or controlling impulses. Therefore, ADHD should be viewed as a neurological condition that requires proper understanding and treatment, not as a character weakness.
Treatment for ADHD generally includes education for the family, behavioral therapy, assistance at school, and administration of certain medications if necessary based on the assessment of a specialist doctor.
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2. Stroke
If ADHD often appears in childhood, strokes more often attack in adulthood, although currently cases in productive age are also increasing.
Stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain tissue is disrupted. As a result, brain cells do not get enough oxygen and nutrients and begin to experience damage in just a matter of minutes.
In general, there are two types of stroke. The first is ischemic stroke, which is caused by blockage of blood vessels in the brain. This type is the most common. The second is hemorrhagic stroke, which is the result of rupture of blood vessels in the brain, resulting in bleeding.
Stroke is one of the main causes of death and disability in Indonesia. Many stroke survivors experience paralysis on one side of the body, speech problems, difficulty swallowing, balance problems, and even decreased thinking function.
The risk factors for stroke are quite varied, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, lack of physical activity, excessive alcohol consumption, and certain heart diseases.
The good news is that most of these risk factors can actually be controlled. Maintaining normal blood pressure, exercising regularly, consuming a balanced nutritious diet, stopping smoking, and controlling blood sugar levels are very effective steps to reduce the risk of stroke.
People also need to recognize the signs of stroke early. A suddenly asymmetrical face, suddenly numb arms, and difficulty speaking are signs of a medical emergency that requires treatment as quickly as possible. The sooner the patient receives therapy, the greater the chance that brain tissue can be saved.
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3. Dementia
Dementia is not a normal part of the aging process. Dementia is a collection of symptoms resulting from damage to brain cells which causes a decrease in memory, thinking ability, language, orientation, and the ability to carry out daily activities.
Many people think of dementia as just “forgetfulness.” The reality is much more complex. Sufferers can forget the names of family members, get lost in unfamiliar surroundings, have difficulty managing finances, and even experience personality changes.
The causes of dementia also vary. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause, but dementia can also be caused by repeated strokes, Parkinson’s disease, or other neurological disorders.
Indonesia faces major challenges related to dementia because the number of elderly people continues to increase. The longer life expectancy, the more people are at risk of experiencing degenerative brain diseases.
Although currently there is no drug available that can completely cure most types of dementia, early diagnosis is still very important. Early treatment can help slow the progression of symptoms, maintain daily function, and improve the quality of life for patients and their families.
Various studies also show that maintaining brain health from a young age can help reduce the risk of dementia. Regular physical activity, healthy eating patterns, adequate sleep, controlling blood pressure, maintaining social interaction, and continuing to train thinking skills through reading, studying, or other intellectual activities are habits that are highly recommended.
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Protecting the Brain Starts Today
These three diseases have different characteristics. ADHD is generally related to brain development from an early age. Stroke is more influenced by the condition of the blood vessels and lifestyle. Dementia is related to degenerative processes that often appear in old age.
Although different, there is one important similarity. Early treatment provides much better results than late treatment.
Therefore, World Brain Day is not just an annual commemoration. This moment is a reminder that brain health must be maintained throughout life. The brain is the control center for all human activities, from thinking, remembering, speaking, moving, making decisions, to controlling emotions.
Maintaining brain health does not always require complicated steps. Getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, eating nutritious food, avoiding smoking, controlling chronic diseases, continuing to learn new things, and immediately getting checked out if suspicious symptoms appear are very valuable health investments.
After all, medical technology continues to advance, but prevention is always better than cure. Taking care of your brain now means maintaining your quality of life in the future.
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SOURCE
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders(5th ed., text rev.). American Psychiatric Association Publishing.
Feigin, V. L., Stark, B. A., Johnson, C. O., et al. (2024). Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990-2021. The Lancet Neurology, 23(4)344-381.
Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. (2019). National Basic Health Research Report (Riskesdas) 2018. Agency for Health Research and Development.
Livingston, G., Huntley, J., Sommerlad, A., et al. (2024). Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission. The Lancet.
World Federation of Neurology. (2026). World Brain Day 2026: Brain Health: Access for All. https://wfneurology.org
World Health Organization. (2022). World mental health report: Transforming mental health for all. World Health Organization.
World Stroke Organization. (2022). Global stroke fact sheet 2022. World Stroke Organization.
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