Journal of Research & Health (Aug 2024)
The Scientific and Islamic Perspectives to Prevent the Incidence of Dementia Among Elderly
Abstract
Background: Dementia is the main cause of disability and dependency among the elderly worldwide. It involves a decline in memory, thinking, behavior, and abilities, which significantly impacts daily activities. Allah SWT shows His power and human helplessness by creating individuals from a weak state to a strong one, only to return to weakness as they experience senility. Preventing dementia in the advanced stages is essential. To effectively implement prevention strategies, it is necessary to understand the risk factors that contribute to the disease. This research aimed to analyze the integration of scientific and Islamic perspectives to prevent the incidence of dementia in the elderly population. Methods: We used a literature review with a comprehensive strategy. The databases, including MEDLINE Complete, MEDLINE with full text, Academic Search Complete, Professional Development Collection, OmniFile Full Text Select (H.W. Wilson), Newspaper Source, and APA PsycArticles were searched using the keywords, namely“dementia,” “faith,” “prayer,” “reading the Qur’an,” “dhikr,” and “fasting” in the title. A total of 274 articles were obtained, but only 17 articles met the qualification criteria. After a detailed review, 10 articles were included in the analysis. Results: The efforts that can prevent the incidence of dementia among the elderly population, from both scientific and Islamic perspectives, were classified as comorbid therapy (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and stroke), neurodegenerative delay (stress reduction (faith, religious activities, such as prayer, reading the Koran, dhikr, and fasting), avoidance of alcohol and cigarettes, prevention of traumatic brain injury, stimulation of neuroplasticity (education and physical activity), and regulation of eating and sleeping patterns (reducing obesity and practicing fasting). Conclusion: The scientific and Islamic perspectives are related to each other. The elderly population should pay attention not only to physical health but also to spiritual health, as both aspects have a close relationship and influence one another.
