September 25, 2017
Dementia Awareness Month runs from 1 September to 30 September every year
The purpose of Dementia Awareness Month is to encourage people to become dementia-aware, have a better understanding of what it is like for a person to live with dementia, and ultimately be encouraged to create communities where people with dementia are to live a high quality of life with meaning, purpose and value
What is dementia?
Dementia describes a collection of symptoms that are caused by disorders affecting the brain. It is not one specific disease. Dementia affects thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday tasks. Brain function is affected enough to interfere with the person’s normal social or working life.
Who gets dementia?
Most people with dementia are older, but it is important to remember that not all older people get dementia. It is not a normal part of ageing. Dementia can happen to anybody, but it is more common after the age of 65 years. People in their 40s and 50s can also have dementia.
What causes dementia?
There are many different forms of dementia and each has its own causes. The most common types of dementia are Alzheimer’s disease, Vascular dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Dementia with Lewy bodies, Fronto Temporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD), Huntington’s disease, Alcohol related dementia (Korsakoff’s syndrome) and Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease.
Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common dementia, accounting for 50-70% of all dementias, so understanding the disease is important.
Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, which over time will worsen and eventually cause death.
In the early stages, a person with Alzheimer’s will show mild forgetfulness and problems with planning and organising.
As the disease progresses, the person’s condition will deteriorate and they will need assistance to perform most daily tasks.
Eventually they will be immobile and confined to bed.
The brain sends and receives messages via billions of brain cells called neurotransmitters, and these chemicals help the neurons to communicate their messages to each other.
Neurons have different tasks depending on their position within the brain.
In Alzheimer’s disease, this process of neuron communication is interrupted. The interruption is caused by plaques and tangles in the brain, so communication between the neurons is increasingly impaired, resulting in damage to the brain
Is it dementia?
There are a number of conditions that produce symptoms similar to dementia. These include some vitamin and hormone deficiencies, depression, medication clashes or over-medication, infections and brain tumours. It is essential that a medical diagnosis is obtained at an early stage when symptoms first appear, to ensure that a person who has a treatable condition is diagnosed and treated correctly. If the symptoms are caused by dementia, an early diagnosis will mean early access to support, information, and medication should it be available.
Can dementia be inherited?
This will depend on the cause of the dementia, so it is important to have a firm medical diagnosis. If you are concerned about the risk of inheriting dementia, consult your doctor to speak to a counsellor. Most cases of dementia are not inherited.
What are the early signs of dementia?
The early signs of dementia are very subtle and vague and may not be immediately obvious. Some common symptoms may include:
- Progressive and frequent memory loss
- Confusion
- Personality change
- Apathy and withdrawal
- Loss of ability to perform everyday tasks
What can be done to help?
At present there is no prevention or cure for most forms of dementia. However, some medications have been found to reduce some symptoms. Support is vital for people with dementia. The help of families, friends and carers can make a positive difference to managing the condition.