Dr Raju is a Specialist Registrar in Older Peoples’ Services at Knowsley

What is Dementia?

Dementia is a serious illness which gradually affects daily activities and brain capabilities such as memory, thinking, problem-solving, concentration and perception. There are various types of dementia - the most common being Alzheimer's disease. About one in every 20 over-65s has dementia, increasing to one in five for those aged 80-plus. Early on-set dementia affects people in their 40s or 50s or even younger.

Why me?

Dementia occurs as a result of the death of brain cells or damage in parts of the brain that deal with our thought processes. Dementia can be inherited – especially if one of your immediate family members had early-onset dementia.

Symptoms

Everyone is different. Memory problems are early symptoms. Later, everyday tasks become harder to perform without help. Look out for:

• Difficulty remembering recent events
• Asking the same thing repeatedly
• Forgetting words whilst speaking
• Forgetting how to do ‘everyday’ tasks like dressing or eating
• Irritable and frustrated due to forgetfulness
• Confusion – even in familiar surroundings
• Depression, disturbed sleep, aggression and psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and paranoia are more common in the advanced stages.

What can be done?

Being confused or forgetful doesn’t mean you have dementia. See your doctor to get the right diagnosis. He or she may refer you to one of our specialist Memory Clinics for further assessment. There’s no cure but particular medications might slow down or delay the progression of Alzheimer’s dementia. Other treatment options include post-diagnostic groups, cognitive stimulation groups and reminiscence therapy.

Your family, friends and health and social workers such as doctors, psychiatrists, speech and language therapists, psychologists, occupational therapists can offer support. We’ll help with sign-posting you to national and local dementia care organisations too.

Further Reading

Dancing with Dementia: My story of living positively with dementia. Bryden. Jessica Kingsley Publishers (London & Philadelphia). 2005.

Helpful organisations

Alzheimer’s Society Telephone: 020 7423 3500 Helpline: 0845 300 0336 Email: enquires@alzheimer's.org.uk

Age UK Telephone: 0800 169 8787 Email: contact@ageuk.org.uk

Carers UK offer support for carers who are providing unpaid care for friends or relatives. Telephone: 0808 808 7777