What is dementia

Dementia is not a specific disease but is rather a general term for the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interferes with doing everyday activities. Dementia is not an inevitable part of ageing and is not a disease in its own right. In order to be diagnosed with dementia you must have a progressive condition of the brain that gets worse with time . Therefore conditions such as Parkinson's disease can be classed as dementia (as it gets progressively worse with time ) but Epilepsy which also affects the brain is not a progressive condition so is not dementia

How common is dementia?

Accordind to the Social Care Institute for Excellence website SCIE.  In 2019 the numbers were approximately 920,000 and this is expected to reach 1 million in 2024.

Isn’t dementia part of normal aging?

No, many older adults live their entire lives without developing dementia. Normal aging may include weakening muscles and bones, stiffening of arteries and vessels, and some age-related memory changes that may show as:

• Occasionally misplacing car keys
• Struggling to find a word but remembering it later
• Forgetting the name of an acquaintance
• Forgetting the most recent events

Normally, knowledge and experiences built over years, old memories, and language would stay intact.

What increases the risk for dementia?

• Age
  The strongest known risk factor for dementia is increasing age, with most cases affecting those of 65 years and older

• Family history
  Those who have parents or siblings with dementia are more likely to develop dementia themselves.

• Race/ethnicity
  Older African Americans are twice more likely to have dementia than whites. Hispanics 1.5 times more likely to have dementia than whites.

• Poor heart health
  High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking increase the risk of dementia if not treated properly.

• Traumatic brain injury
  Head injuries can increase the risk of dementia, especially if they are severe or occur repeatedly.

How is dementia diagnosed?

Because of its complexity Dementia can't just be diagnosed by visiting a health professional. A healthcare provider can perform tests on attention, memory, problem solving and other cognitive abilities to see if there is cause for concern. A physical exam, blood tests, and brain scans like a CT or MRI can also help determine an underlying cause.