CHANGING MINDS

Understanding dementia can help reduce the stigma around the disease, and lead to better outcomes for those it affects.

September is World Alzheimer’s Month – a time when we are encouraged to improve our awareness and challenge the stigma that surrounds dementia.

Globally, about 50 million people are living with dementia – and this figure is expected to triple by 2050. Dr Jennifer Bute is one such person. Formerly a GP, Dr Bute diagnosed her own dementia after being misdiagnosed by her neurologist. “At first it was [forgetting] passwords,” says Dr Bute. Soon after, I wouldn’t recognise people I had known for 20 years. Then I started getting lost along familiar routes. That was … how it all started.” Dr Bute now runs groups for people with dementia, using brain games developed by Japanese neuroscientist Ryuta Kawashima. “Every three seconds someone develops dementia – yet most do not receive a diagnosis or support,” she says.

Dementia is not one specific disease – rather, the term describes a collection of symptoms that are caused by disorders affecting the brain. There are many forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington’s disease, and each has its own causes. Dementia impacts thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday tasks. It can affect anybody, but it’s more common after the age of 65. At present there is no prevention or cure for most forms of dementia, but there are techniques for slowing its progression – such as physical and mental exercises, social activities and a healthy diet.

There have also been great breakthroughs in dementia research. In Norway, researchers from the University of Bergen have discovered a connection between gum disease and Alzheimer’s disease. They determined that the presence of bacteria causing gingivitis substantially raises the risk for developing Alzheimer’s – and the bacteria are implicated in a more rapid progression of the disease. Meanwhile, a new longitudinal study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease Reports has revealed that a nutritional drink containing Fortasyn Connect (a multinutrient combination with a mix of vitamins and minerals) can benefit Alzheimer’s patients with mild cognitive impairment. Still, until a cure has been found, support for the person with dementia – as well as their families and carers – is vital.