Dementia describes a collection of symptoms caused by disorders affecting the brain. It is not one specific disease.
Dementia can affect thinking, memory and behaviour. Brain function is affected enough to interfere with someone’s normal social or working life.
No two people experience dementia in the same way.
Early signs of dementia can be subtle and may not be immediately obvious.
Common symptoms include:
memory loss
changes in planning and problem-solving abilities
difficulty completing everyday tasks
confusion about time or place
trouble understanding what we see (objects, people) and distances, depth and space in our surroundings
difficulty with speech, writing or comprehension
misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
decreased or poor judgement
withdrawal from work or social activities
changes in mood and personality.
WHO GETS DEMENTIA?
Dementia can happen to anybody, but the risk increases with age.
It depends on a combination of age, genes, health and lifestyle.
* Over the age of 65, dementia affects almost one person in 10.
* Over the age of 85, dementia affects three people in 10.
* People under the age of 65 can develop dementia (called ‘younger onset dementia’), but it is less common.
* Dementia can sometimes be hereditary, but this is quite rare.
* Dementia is NOT a normal part of ageing.
* Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia (70%)
DESPITE BILLIONS SPENT ON DRUG RESEARCH, THERE ARE NO EFFECTIVE DRUGS AVAILABLE FOR TREATMENT OF DEMENTIA!
memory loss
changes in planning and problem-solving abilities
difficulty completing everyday tasks
confusion about time or place
trouble understanding what we see (objects, people) and distances, depth and space in our surroundings
difficulty with speech, writing or comprehension
misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
decreased or poor judgement
withdrawal from work or social activities
changes in mood and personality.
WHO GETS DEMENTIA?
Dementia can happen to anybody, but the risk increases with age.
It depends on a combination of age, genes, health and lifestyle.
* Over the age of 65, dementia affects almost one person in 10.
* Over the age of 85, dementia affects three people in 10.
* People under the age of 65 can develop dementia (called ‘younger onset dementia’), but it is less common.
* Dementia can sometimes be hereditary, but this is quite rare.
* Dementia is NOT a normal part of ageing.
* Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia (70%)
DESPITE BILLIONS SPENT ON DRUG RESEARCH, THERE ARE NO EFFECTIVE DRUGS AVAILABLE FOR TREATMENT OF DEMENTIA!
