More adults above 30 years of age suffering from brain tumours than elderly people: Mumbai doctors

Currently Mumbai doctors are seeing a surge in cases of brain tumours among adults aged 3545 years This trend can be attributed to diagnostic facilities greater awareness environmental factors genetic predisposition and lifestylerelated health challengesIt is also why they say adults shouldnrsquot ignore persistent headaches vision changes seizures or balance problems Experts advise timely attention for symptoms such as constant headaches vision changes and seizures Timely intervention is lifesaving for the patientsPreviously brain tumours were commonly seen in the older population above 60 years of age However there is a shift in the trend now Dr Nitin Dange director Interventional Neurologist and Neurosurgeon Gleneagles Hospital in Parel said ldquoUnfortunately currently brain tumour cases are increasing among adults aged 3545 years due to factors such as improved access to MRI and CT scans increased health awareness genetic susceptibility environmental exposures and lifestylerelated changes such as stress disrupted sleep cycles prolonged screen exposure physical inactivity and even rising metabolic disorders Understand that these factors may not directly be linked to brain tumours but can contribute to overall health risks and often lead people to ignore early warning signs causing delayed diagnosis and treatment In a week 34 adults aged 3545 years visit me with symptoms such as persistent or worsening headaches blurred or double vision unexplained seizures weakness in the arms or legs balance difficulties memory problems personality changes nausea and repeated vomiting that can be linked to brain tumoursDr Dange further added ldquoSo the patients often tend to ignore the symptoms due to hectic schedules demanding careers family responsibilities irregular sleep patterns or stress They may label these symptoms as stress and suffer in silence They tend to seek help only when the symptoms interfere with their daily routine If left untreated brain tumours can lead to serious complications including permanent neurological deficits loss of vision recurrent seizures speech difficulties mobility problems and increased pressure within the brain and the treatment can become more complicated Hence timely diagnosis and treatment are key to saving the patientrsquos life Diagnosis for a brain tumour involves an MRI or a CT scan After the tumour detection the treatment will be dependent on the tumours type size and location Surgery is the primary treatment for brain tumours aiming to remove as much of the tumour as safely possible while preserving brain function Depending on the diagnosis radiation therapy chemotherapy targeted therapy or a combination of treatments may also be recommended to the patientrdquoTraditionally brain tumours were seen in older adults but now many adults are also suffering from them in their 30s40s The surge in cases can be associated with increasing environmental exposures and underlying genetic factors The signs such as constant headaches seizures or vision changes shouldnrsquot be dismissed by individuals Weekly one to two patients belonging to the age group 3545 years are coming with vomiting which is not linked to food infection headaches vision changes and are at risk of being diagnosed with brain tumours Brain tumours can also have an impact on mood thinking and behaviour such as irritability which can be linked to anxiety ageing burnout and fatigue It is not possible to pinpoint a single cause behind a brain tumour as it happens due to a combination of factors Any neurological symptom that is new persistent or progressively worsening should be evaluated without delay as early diagnosis can improve treatment outcomes highlighted Dr Batuk Diyora neurosurgeon Zen Multispeciality Hospital in ChemburDr Dange concludes that brain tumour surgery has evolved with the use of technologies such as roboticassisted systems artificial intelligencebased surgical planning fluorescenceguided tumour visualisation advanced neuronavigation intraoperative MRI and realtime brain mapping currently Now it is possible to detect tumours precisely and remove them safely while protecting critical brain functions and supporting faster recovery