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My grandmother is a 65-year-old retired teacher. Lately, she has been experiencing memory problems, such as forgetting appointments, misplacing keys, and struggling to recall the names of familiar people. What could it be and is there anything that could be done

Answered by Rishav Koirala, psychiatrist and researcher

Age-related cognitive changes are common, and some degree of forgetfulness is considered a normal part of aging. Chronic stress can lead to cognitive difficulties, and addressing stress management techniques may help improve memory. Sleep disturbances, such as sleep apnea or insomnia, can also impair cognitive function, and optimizing sleep quality can have a positive impact. 

If your grandmother is on some medication regimen, there are some drugs that may be affecting her memory. So a review of her medication is essential. Additionally, addressing any underlying medical conditions and ensuring proper nutrition can play a crucial role in memory improvement.

With the aging population in Nepal, the prevalence of cognitive disorders, including dementia, has been on the rise. In the context of dementia, individuals may experience a distorted sense of temporal orientation, emphasizing past memories while struggling to remember or anticipate the future. This temporal disorientation can lead to a sense of ‘wandering’ through time, where past experiences become more accessible, while future events and plans become increasingly elusive. 

As a result of this temporal disorientation, individuals experiencing memory problems may also find it challenging to remember tasks or work that was in progress, which can be disruptive and disorienting. This issue can further compound the difficulties associated with dementia, as individuals may ‘lose track’ of their ongoing tasks, adding to their sense of temporal disorientation and causing frustration and confusion. Understanding and addressing these challenges are essential in providing appropriate care and support to individuals with dementia.

Moreover, it’s crucial to recognize that the person looking after the patient, such as family members or caregivers, may experience significant emotional and psychological challenges. The constant adjustments and uncertainties brought about by dementia can lead to caregiver anxiety, stress, and burnout. Caregivers often grapple with the demanding responsibilities of ensuring the patient’s safety, providing emotional support, and managing the daily care routine, all while witnessing the progressive decline of their loved one's cognitive function. Recognizing and addressing the caregiver’s well-being is a vital aspect of holistic care for individuals with dementia, as it helps ensure the patient receives the best possible support while also maintaining the caregiver’s own mental and emotional health.

To determine the exact cause and appropriate interventions, it is crucial for your grandmother to seek a comprehensive evaluation from a healthcare professional, be it a psychiatrist, neurologist, or geriatrician, who can provide a tailored assessment and guidance for her specific situation. Early intervention and support can significantly affect the management of memory issues, irrespective of their underlying cause, and may involve addressing temporal disorientation and providing a supportive environment for individuals with dementia.

A senior pilot was injured when a Manang Air chopper crashed as it was trying to land at Lobuche of Solukhumbu on Saturday.

The chopper with a call sign 9N-ANJ was heading towards Lobuche from Lukla to rescue foreign tourists when the incident occurred this morning, it has been learnt.

Critically injured pilot Prakash Sedhai has been airlifted to Hams Hospital of Kathmandu by the Fishtail Air chopper for treatment, Chief District Officer Basanta Bhattarai said.

Pilot Sedhai was the only person onboard the chopper.

According to an eyewitness, Mingmar Nuru Sherpa, the incident occurred at the helipad of Lobuche at around 7:30 am.

Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality-4 ward Chairman Laxman Adhikari said that the chopper may have crashed while landing at the helipad situated at an altitude of 4, 900 meters.

The chopper caught fire after the crash.

The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) decided to stay neutral in the formation of a new government in Koshi Province.

A meeting of the central office-bearers of the party held at Central Office, Dhumbarahi, on Friday made the decision to this effect.

The meeting called for holding discussions on the recently developed scenario in Koshi Province, the country's overall political and social situation and to determine the party's strategy in this regard, said RPP Spokesperson and Publicity Department Chief, Mohan Kumar Shrestha.

Shrestha said, "We have seriously reviewed the scenario developed in Koshi Province. The meeting decided to remain neutral regarding the matter of selecting the new Chief Minister. Decision will be taken if needed."

The Embassy of Germany in Kathmandu celebrated 65 years of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Germany amidst the presence of over 400 guests at Hotel Hyatt in Kathmandu on Thursday.

National Assembly Chairman Ganesh Prasad Timilsina presided over the event as chief guest.

Officials of various ministries, leaders of political parties, heads of Kathmandu-based diplomatic missions, civil society members, Human Rights advocates, businesspersons, media persons and people from various walks of life were present in the program.

In his welcome speech, German Ambassador to Nepal Thomas Prinz said, “We are celebrating 65 years of bilateral relations between Nepal and Germany. 65 years of friendship and solidarity. We have been standing with Nepal in difficult times, be it the civil war, the 2015 earthquake or the Covid-19 pandemic. We welcome the huge progress Nepal has made and continue our support.” He also conveyed his condolences to the victims of the terrorist attacks in Israel, reads a statement issued by the Federal Republic of Germany in Kathmandu.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 600 per tola in the domestic market on Friday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 110, 100 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 109, 500 per tola on Thursday.

Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 109, 550 per tola. It was traded at Rs 109, 000 per tola.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,345 per tola today.

When you look good, you feel good. A little makeup can boost your confidence level when something feels off (and don’t we all have those days). Asmi Shrestha, a professional makeup artist and owner of the studio Glamour by Asmi in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu runs us through the basics of makeup while offering some helpful tips on how to take care of our skin. 

 What is the most important thing to keep in mind while buying makeup products? 

You need a good solid base to begin with so investing in proper moisturizer and primer is crucial. It’s also important to make sure your makeup items don’t clash with one another so keep a basic color palate in mind. Also, not every brand will suit you so you have to find out what works for you. I recommend you avoid dupes and invest in good quality products. 

 As a makeup artist, what is the one thing you recommend for those wanting to experiment with makeup?

I’d like to tell people to take care of their skin first and then choose makeup that helps enhance their features. Cleanse your skin every day. Test products before you buy them to ensure it doesn’t lead to rashes or breakouts. You can’t compromise on essentials like face serums, eye creams, moisturizers, and sunscreens. Then, for everyday makeup, consider investing in a good concealer for coverage, mascara to brighten your eyes, blush for a radiant complexion, and a solid lipstick to complete your look. 

 How important is it to understand your skin type before applying any makeup? 

Different skin types have different needs so you must use products that don’t hamper your skin and aggravate your skin issues, should you have any.  Dry skin needs a dewy base, like a good product with cream oil and a thick moisturizer. Oily skin, on the other hand, needs a mattifying product for a clear look. A primer is also essential so as not to clog your pores even further. I recommend a foundation-setting powder to most of my clients because it helps the makeup to stay in place for a long time. Those who have sensitive skin should stay away from makeup products or visit a dermatologist before putting anything on the skin. 

 How do you select the right foundation and concealer shades for different skin tones?

There are three main skin tones, warm, cool, and neutral. In Nepal, you often come across neutral and warm skin tones. Look at the labels for words like Neutral Cool (NC), Neutral (N), and Warm (W) to find the right shade for your skin tone. You can choose one or two shades lighter than your skin tone, apply it to your jawline, and wait for five min to check for oxidation. Likewise, for concealer, you can pick one that’s two shades lighter than your foundation. If it blends seamlessly, that shade is your perfect match. 

Can you share some makeup tricks?

Blending is the most challenging part of makeup but it can make or break your look. Good blending gives you a defined look and can highlight your best features. So practice it well. For eye makeup, use a concealer first for a matt finish. If you want your lipstick to look nice and last long, apply a lip balm before putting on lipstick, and also use a lip liner to enhance the shape of your lips. Highlighting and contouring play major roles in enhancing your facial features. To add a little structure to your face, contour the jawline, lower cheeks, and forehead. Use a highlighter where natural light hits your face, especially on the cheekbones, bridge of your nose, under brows, and chin.

 Is there anything specific people tend to overlook while doing their makeup?

I believe it’s very important to use the right makeup tools. Different brushes are designed for different purposes. I recommend a beauty sponge to apply foundation. For liquid products like blush and contour, flat-top brushes are quite useful. As a makeup artist, I recommend you to have at least a fluffy brush, eye makeup brush, and brows brush in your makeup bag. After each use, make sure to clean and sanitize your brush. For thorough cleaning, you can use baby shampoo and olive oil. As for the beauty sponge, you need to wash it after every use and squeeze it properly otherwise the water will dilute your oil-based makeup.

The government has expressed its commitment to develop Provincial Investment Climate Reform Action Plans across all provinces, beginning with the Koshi, Madhesh, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces to stimulate investments at the subnational level.

These plans will identify important reforms based on Provincial Investment Climate Assessments (PICA) conducted in the four provinces to help create an investment-friendly environment and promote private sector investment at the provincial and local levels. This new initiative will also be extended to the remaining three provinces of Bagmati, Karnali, and Sudurpashchim over the course of the Fiscal Year.

The announcement was made at a workshop on PICA organized by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers with the support of the World Bank, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and the International Finance Corporation on October 9, 2023.

“PICA will help us to get disaggregated data on investment climate at provincial level and offers necessary data for shaping evidence informed policies at local level.  It suggests some policy alternatives for potential transformation of Nepal’s business environment,” expressed Dr Baikuntha Aryal, Chief Secretary of the Government of Nepal. “We need to internalize the framework, ensure effective policy coordination, simplify and harmonize policies and develop understanding of priority reform agenda among all state actors to improve Nepal’s business environment”.

The workshop was organized under the World Bank and SDC-financed Post-Covid Private Sector Recovery Technical Assistance (TA) Program (PSRP). It discussed the findings from the PICA and the strategic actions needed for the formulation of Provincial Investment Climate Reform Action Plans, drawing upon the insights derived from the assessment report.

“PICA will, for the first time, provide insights in terms of the readiness of provinces to attract investment and support private sector growth,” said Meuwly, Ambassador of Switzerland to Nepal. “PICA’s effort is a much welcome step in Nepal’s federalized context. We need to support the ongoing devolution of federal power and promote collaboration between national and sub national authorities. By fostering businesses and private investment, we are ultimately working to achieve Nepal’s aspiration of becoming a middle-income country.”

PICA offers an evidence-based assessment to help policymakers at the provincial and local governments identify important policy changes that affect investment environment and competitiveness. It assesses the investment climate across 18 indicators divided into four pillars: Basic Infrastructure, Regulatory Efficiency, Regulatory Transparency and Firm Engagement, and Quality of Life.

The PICA was undertaken initially in four provinces and municipalities - Koshi (Biratnagar), Madhesh (Birgunj), Gandaki (Pokhara), and Lumbini (Siddharthanagar). The preparation of the PICA will commence in the remaining provinces later this calendar year.

“A conducive climate for robust private sector participation and investment in cities within and outside Kathmandu Valley is central to Nepal’s economic growth,” said Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank Country Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. “Subnational policy makers play an important role in targeting reforms and action plans towards mobilizing greater private investments and creating job opportunities for people at federal, provincial, and local levels.”

The workshop also included a panel discussion on ‘Investment Climate Reforms in Provinces: Possibilities and Way Forward’ where panelists delved into governance issues, the significance of public-private dialogue in reform implementation, and the impact of infrastructure development on enhancing the investment climate.

Eknarayan Aryal, Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, highlighted the importance of inter-government coordination for effective implementation of PICA reform activities and stressed the significance of the private sector’s role in the industrialization of Nepal’s economy.  The workshop was attended by secretaries and joint secretaries from federal ministries, principal secretaries and secretaries from the provincial governments, chief administrative officers from the pilot local governments, development partners, and private sector representatives.

Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat has urged the European Union (EU) to remove Nepal from their aviation safety concern list.

He made this request in a sideline meeting with EU Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen in Marrakesh of Morocco on Thursday. Finance Minister Mahat is currently in Marrakesh to participate in the annual meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Similarly, during the meeting, he urged the EU to increase its economic assistance to Nepal, Minister Mahat's secretariat stated. 

Since 2013 the EU has put Nepal's airlines companies in its safety concern list and due to this the airlines companies of Nepal are not allowed to operate flights in the European skies.

The EU had refused to de-list Nepali airlines from the safety concern list when it carried out a monitoring of Nepali airlines in 2079BS.

It had announced its plan of conducting an on-site monitoring of the status of air safety issues in February 2023, but the EU team did not come to Nepal for the monitoring following the air crash near the Pokhara Airport on January 15.

The EU's security committee has, however, conducted an on-site study of Nepali airlines companies and on aviation security in August/September and the Finance Minister has made this request in this context.

On the occasion, the EU Commissioner said that they would be carrying out works on this matter through the EU Embassy in Nepal and also hold discussions on this.