HEALTH

“Forgetfulness earliest symptom of alzheimer’s disease”
Tribune News Service

Brain awareness week at PGI The brain awareness week began at the Neurology and Neurosurgery OPDs at the PGI here yesterday. Director Prof K.K. Talwar inaugurated the awareness week and expressed his appreciation for the efforts put in by both the departments to educate the general public about various ailments related to the brain. Brochures and handout containing essential information of the common neurological disorders were also distributed among those who came for the OPD in the morning. Doctors, dieticians and physiotherapists also cleared the doubts of the affected families of managing the patients at home. In the weeklong awareness drive, which concludes on March 20, information on different diseases would be given every day.

Chandigarh, March 15
Forgetfulness and lack of concentration could be the earliest symptoms of alzheimer’s disease which can become incurable after the disease has progressed. Since advancing age is the most important risk factor for alzheimer’s disease, the risk of the development of this disease doubles every 5 years beyond the age of 65.

``Symptoms of alzheimer’s disease include memory loss, language deterioration, impaired ability to mentally visualise information and poor judgment. The patient can also have restlessness, mood swings and confusion. Eventually alzheimer’s disease destroys cognition, personality and ability to function,’’ said Dr A. Lal of the Department of Neurology at the PGI.

The disease can be treated if it is detected at an early stage. At the later stage of disease progression, some degree of symptomatic relief is only possible by drug therapy, which may temporarily retard the disease progression. “Three genes have also been discovered that cause early onset of alzheimer’s disease. Also, a high degree of suspicion is required on the part of the physician to detect more and more cases of alzheimer’s disease. Equally important is that the care giver should be provided good insight into the disease and false hopes should be avoided,’’ adds Dr Lal. Scientists are currently studying and testing different drugs to determine if they can stop alzheimer’s disease progression, adds the doctor.

SPORTS

Sector-16 stadium all set to host Ranji tie
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 15
The authorities of the Sector-16 cricket stadium are gearing up for its first major match in almost 15 years — the Ranji Trophy (plate division) semi-final scheduled to be held from March 18 to 21. The match is to be played between Haryana and Jharkhand and several international stars like Mahendra Singh Dhoni, One Day wicket keeper, and Ajay Ratra will play.

There was a hectic activity in the stadium today. The grass was being pruned and the main scoreboard readied. The sight screens were getting a fresh coat of paint while officials of the Chandigarh Cricket Association (CCA), affiliated to Haryana, were busy planning the things to the last details.

Besides Dhoni and Ratra, medium pace bowler Joginder Sharma and Amit Mishra are also to play. The last international match held in the stadium was a Test between India and Sri-Lanka in November, 1990. Since 1994, when Punjab built its own stadium in Mohali, the Sector 16 stadium has been ignored.

Officials of the association were supervising the preparations.

“The pitch is being readied under the supervision of Harish Sharma, coach at the stadium, and Sukhwinder Bawa, coach posted at DAV School, Sector 8,” says Mr Surinder Singh Baijee, Secretary of the CCA. “The pitch would favour batsmen while assist bowlers also,” said Harish Sharma.

Both teams are scheduled to arrive here by tomorrow. Baijee says, “The Haryana team would stay in the Park View hotel, Sector 24, while players from Jharkhand would be lodged in the GK International hotel, Sector 35.”

The Haryana team, under the captaincy of Ajay Ratra, would practice at the stadium at 1 pm tomorrow while the other team would practice in the evening, Baijee said. 

BSF men win judo meet
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, March 15
Judokas of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) among women section while Border Security Force (BSF) in men section won the overall trophy in the team championship in the Senior National Judo Championship that concluded today at the Sector 10 Skating Rink. CRPF earned 24 points while BSF collected 14 points.

The CISF bagged 18 points to take second place in women section while the ITBP had a close finish with top position holder and took 13 points in men section. Punjab with 10 points was placed third in women section and fourth in men section. The CRPF and AICB jointly got third place in men section with 10 points each.

Chandigarh judokas, however, won three medals with one silver and two bronze medals in the individual weight category.

Results: women below-44 kg — Tombi Devi 1, Archana 2, Ranjeet 3, S.Umrani 3, below-48 kg — Anuradha1, Namrata 2, Madhushri 3, Bembem 3; below-52 kg — Anshu 1, Janita 2, Gomti 3, Sajida 3; below-57 kg — Nirupma1, Harpreet 2, Kiran Negi 3, Nidhi 3; below-63 kg — Bojeshwari1, Bibirani 2, Taruna 3, Chinheinganbi 3; below-70 kg —Landhoni1, Sapna 2, Sangita 3, Kiran Sihaj 3; below-78 kg — Aarti Sharma 1, Aarti Kohli 2, Jaya Nautiial 3, Jina 3; and open category — Aarti Kohli 1, Priyanka 2, Divya 3, Manisha 3.

Men: below-56 kg — L Dinit Singh1, German 2, Madan Lal 3, Rajesh 3; below-60 kg — Navjot Chana1, Ashwani 2, Pramod 3, Kuldeep 3; below-66 kg — Santosh 1, Arun 2, Rajni Kumar 3, Arvind 3. below-73 kg — Virender 1, Karambir 2, Pradeep 3, Rakesh 3; below-81 kg — Vinod1, Jagbir 2, Rakesh 3, Sunil 3; below-90 kg — Satish1, Jaipal 2, Anil 3, Yadwinder 3; below-100 kg —Jatinder 1, Pawan Kumar 2, Sanjeev Kumar 3, Jatinder Pal 3; and open category —Pradeep Tokas 1, Ravinder 2, Dhanvir Singh 3, Jitender 3.

Minerva club enters final
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 15
The Minerva Academy Cricket Club thrashed the Satluj Coaching Centre by nine wickets to enter the final of the 11th Prudential Cricket Cup organised by the Prudential Cricket Club, at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 27, here today.

A fine partnership between Rocky Ratta and skipper Ranjit Bajaj, who scored 58 runs off 40 balls n.o. and 28 runs off 27 balls, respectively, enabled the Minerva Club achieve the target in just 13.1 overs with 7 overs and 9 wickets to spare.

The Minerva club will face the Prudential Cricket Club in the final at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 27, on Sunday.

Brief Scores: Minerva Academy Cricket Club 103 in 13.1 overs; Rocky Ratta 58, Ranjit Bajaj 28.

Satluj Coaching Centre: 99 all out in 18.3 overs; Pawan 22, Rohit 16; Rajesh Vaid 3 for 6, Rocky Ratta 3 for 18, Gagandeep Sandhu 2 for 11, Harman 2 for 15.

ADMINISTRATION

Head Constable Tuli suspended
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, March 15
The UT, SSP, Mr Gaurav Yadav, today ordered the suspension of Head Constable Ashok Tuli and sent him to the Police Lines following the preliminary inquiry reports, which found him guilty of misconduct. He has also ordered the departmental inquiry into the matter.

The police sources said Ashok Tuli had manhandled his senior officer, Inspector Anokh Singh in Hotel Mountview on March 13, when the former prevented him from entering the hotel with three-four other persons. Anokh Singh had filed a complaint at the Sector 3 police station.