DEMENTIA IS NOW THE MOST FEARED DISEASE
Dementia is the name given to a condition marked by a loss of the cognitive functions of the brain namely the functions of the brain to do with thinking, reasoning, decision making and memory. A lot of attention in the media focuses on loss of memory but loss of memory, particularly for recent events, is part of normal ageing and the inability to remember where one has put car keys or a name of someone met last week is normal, and it is not an indication of dementia or even early dementia.
With dementia there are severe effects on the key functions of life, for example on
Dementia therefore is diagnosed by changes in thinking and behaviour.
There are two common causes of dementia which often occur together. One of these is Alzheimer’s disease although there are probably a number of different conditions all grouped under the heading of Alzheimer’s disease. In this disease changes can be seen in the brain now that we have easy means of visualising the brain namely MRI and CT scans. A very small proportion of Alzheimer’s diseases comes on early and is genetically determined most of it is an unknown cause and most of it is, at present, untreatable.
The second cause is interruption in the flow of blood supply to the brain. The blockage of a big artery to the brain results in a stroke which obviously can affect thinking as well as the ability to move an arm or a leg. However what is now clear, thanks to modern imaging techniques, is that some people have multiple small strokes, but these occur in parts of the brain that do not affect movement but do affect the ability to think logically and make decisions. These mini strokes build up in time and result in vascular dementia.
Why is dementia important?
Dementia is important because it affects the individual’s ability to be independent. It is a form of disability. However some disabilities can be managed by helping people change their house, for example by installing a stair lift, or providing a piece of equipment such as a little gadget for taking the tops of jam jars but when the cognitive functions of the brain are affected there is no modification or aid that can be given that compensates for their loss.That is not to say that nothing can be done but it is a much bigger challenge than diseases that are physical and disabling. Together with frailty it is the principal reason why people are no longer able to live independently and have to be admitted to a care home.
HOW COULD YOU USE THIS KNOWLEDGE TO ACHIEVE YOUR OWN OBJECTIVES?
HOW COULD YOU USE THIS KNOWLEDGE IF YOU ARE SUPPORTING SOMEONE ELSE?
Dementia is the name given to a condition marked by a loss of the cognitive functions of the brain namely the functions of the brain to do with thinking, reasoning, decision making and memory. A lot of attention in the media focuses on loss of memory but loss of memory, particularly for recent events, is part of normal ageing and the inability to remember where one has put car keys or a name of someone met last week is normal, and it is not an indication of dementia or even early dementia.
With dementia there are severe effects on the key functions of life, for example on
- looking after oneself and remembering to wash,
- finding one’s way about outside the house, for example getting lost on the way back from the shops one has visited for thirty years,
- interaction with other people in conversation
- an ability to manage one’s financial affairs or to drive.
Dementia therefore is diagnosed by changes in thinking and behaviour.
There are two common causes of dementia which often occur together. One of these is Alzheimer’s disease although there are probably a number of different conditions all grouped under the heading of Alzheimer’s disease. In this disease changes can be seen in the brain now that we have easy means of visualising the brain namely MRI and CT scans. A very small proportion of Alzheimer’s diseases comes on early and is genetically determined most of it is an unknown cause and most of it is, at present, untreatable.
The second cause is interruption in the flow of blood supply to the brain. The blockage of a big artery to the brain results in a stroke which obviously can affect thinking as well as the ability to move an arm or a leg. However what is now clear, thanks to modern imaging techniques, is that some people have multiple small strokes, but these occur in parts of the brain that do not affect movement but do affect the ability to think logically and make decisions. These mini strokes build up in time and result in vascular dementia.
Why is dementia important?
Dementia is important because it affects the individual’s ability to be independent. It is a form of disability. However some disabilities can be managed by helping people change their house, for example by installing a stair lift, or providing a piece of equipment such as a little gadget for taking the tops of jam jars but when the cognitive functions of the brain are affected there is no modification or aid that can be given that compensates for their loss.That is not to say that nothing can be done but it is a much bigger challenge than diseases that are physical and disabling. Together with frailty it is the principal reason why people are no longer able to live independently and have to be admitted to a care home.
HOW COULD YOU USE THIS KNOWLEDGE TO ACHIEVE YOUR OWN OBJECTIVES?
- Take heart from this knowledge; you can reduce your risk of dementia.
- Go to our Brainability Programme
- Be very cautious about accepting the offer of screening for dementia or’ pre-dementia”
HOW COULD YOU USE THIS KNOWLEDGE IF YOU ARE SUPPORTING SOMEONE ELSE?
- Encourage other people to accept the evidence that even though a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease has not been found the risk of dementia can be reduced.
- If they do not have dementia discuss the benefits of the Brainability Programme
- If they have been diagnosed as having dementia consult the advice for people supporting someone with dementia on NHS Choices