‘Now is the time to unite against dementia’
DEMENTIA is one of the most significant health and social care issues of modern times.
As part of Dementia Awareness Week, which runs from May 14 to 20, the Alzheimer’s Society highlights seven things you may not know about the condition
1. Dementia is an umbrella term
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, affecting 62% of those diagnosed.
The word dementia describes a set of symptoms that can include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language.
In different types of dementia such as vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, mixed dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies, there is damage to different parts of the brain.
2. Dementia isn’t a natural part of ageing
Dementia doesn’t care who you are and can affect anyone.
It’s caused by diseases of the brain which includes Alzheimer’s disease.
Dementia affects everyone differently. Someone with the condition might experience a number of changes include problems with memory, thinking, concentration and language.
It mainly affects people over the age of 65, however there are more than 42,000 people under 65 living with dementia in the UK.
3. Dementia is a progressive condition but with support people can continue to live well
Dementia is progressive, meaning that symptoms gradually get worse.
However, many people living with dementia lead active and fulfilling lives for many years.
There are many ways to help support someone living with dementia from becoming a Dementia Friend, gaining a better understanding of the condition, to volunteering with Alzheimer’s Society’s Side by Side service.
The charity is for everyone affected by dementia, to find out more about local services or volunteering visit alzheimers.org. uk 4. By 2021, one million of us will have dementia
There are 850,000 people in the UK who have a form of dementia, of which 45,000 live in Wales.
Dementia has replaced heart diseases as the leading cause of death in Wales and England, accounting for 11.6% of all deaths registered in 2015, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Dementia is set to be the 21st century’s biggest killer, with someone developing it every three minutes.
■ 5. There is no cure for dementia
Delaying the onset of dementia by five years would halve the number of deaths from the condition, saving 30,000 lives a year.
Of the top 10 causes of death, dementia is the only one we can’t prevent, cure or even slow down, but funding of dementia research is still far too low.
Research is continuing into new drugs, vaccines and other medical treatments.
Drugs do exist for Alzheimer’s disease which can improve symptoms or temporarily slow progression, in some people.
There are no licensed drug treatments for other forms of dementia.
6. Dementia research is underfunded
Dementia research is desperately underfunded.
For every person living with dementia, the annual cost to the UK economy is over £30,000 and yet only £90m is spent on dementia research each year.
Alzheimer’s Society is committed to spending at least £150m over the next decade on dementia research including a £50m investment in the UK’s first dedicated Dementia Research Institute.
7. We can beat dementia through research
Alzheimer’s Society provides information and support, improves care, funds research, and creates lasting change for people affected by dementia.
They are the only UK charity investing in research into dementia care, cause, cure and prevention of all types of dementia. Dementia devastates lives. Alzheimer’s Society needs people to unite against dementia now. Whether you choose to donate, volunteer or campaign, every action makes a difference.