Professor Jeong Heewon of Seoul Asan Hospital on Current Affairs
"Alcohol Accelerates Brain Aging... A Kind of Dopamine Addiction"
"Becoming 'Great Anger' State Even Without Special Stimuli"
Introducing the concept of slow aging and gaining great response mainly from the younger generation, Professor Jeong Heewon of the Geriatrics Department at Seoul Asan Medical Center mentioned the December 3 emergency martial law incident, asserting that "people who frequently drink alcohol should not become leaders."
On the 10th, a 20-minute video titled "The Qualities of a Leader According to Professor Jeong Heewon" was posted on Professor Jeong's YouTube channel, 'Jeong Heewon's Slow Aging.' In the video, he began by saying, “This is truly a chaotic time. Martial law was declared, then the impeachment vote did not proceed, and various things seem to be happening. I believe many people are experiencing these events with a devastated and complicated heart.”
Professor Jeong Heewon, Department of Geriatrics, Asan Medical Center, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jinhyung aymsdream@
Professor Jeong said, “In fact, I have been exposed to the media many times and have put up many defenses to ensure that no political intentions are revealed, but now I feel I need to speak more directly to you about these matters.”
He stated, "I will talk about why leaders in society or companies must diligently practice self-cultivation (correcting mind and behavior)," mentioning behaviors such as drinking alcohol, sacrificing sleep, eating in ways that accelerate aging, or consuming meals that cause severe blood sugar variability. Regarding this, he explained, "In the long term, these lead to accelerated brain aging and a brain state that is cluttered, with poor impulse control, many worries, frequent anger, or dopamine addiction."
He elaborated, “When the belly protrudes, the waist bends, and the limbs become thin, insulin resistance related to chronic diseases, blood pressure, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia worsen, and the health inside blood vessels deteriorates, causing the brain to shrink faster. Therefore, frontal lobe function declines further, and the hippocampus atrophies more,” adding, “It is even known that when power is added to this, the brain enters a state similar to dopamine addiction.”
He continued, “Simply put, even without significant stimuli, if someone opposes me just a little, I become extremely enraged, entering a state of 'great anger.' Many of you may be familiar with these traits from the various behaviors of past dictators.”
Professor Jeong emphasized the phrase from ‘The Great Learning’ about ‘self-cultivation, family regulation, governance, and peace under heaven,’ stating, “Our society has been too lenient toward alcohol until now. However, the many poor decisions made under the influence of alcohol should no longer be dismissed as mere incidents or laughed off. We must not become a society that encourages drinking.”
He added, “In a way, I feel that we might be undergoing the painful process of moving completely from the leadership mindset and lifestyle habits of the past toward a completely new future.”
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