0
0
World Alzheimer’s Day takes place during World Alzheimer’s Month and is on 21 September every year.
This year’s theme, ‘Know Dementia, Know Alzheimer’s’ will have a special focus on post-diagnosis support.
In 2022, the campaign will have a special focus on post-diagnosis support. Following recent developments and potential breakthroughs, in both dementia treatment and support, the campaign will aim to highlight the importance of support for people living with dementia and families following a diagnosis.
In the build up to, and on the day of, many Alzheimer and dementia associations around the world host memory walks, fundraisers, awareness raising activities and campaigns to bring attention towards those in their community that are affected by Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia.
Facts
- Dementia is a term used to describe different brain disorders that affect memory, thinking, behaviour and emotion
- Early symptoms of dementia can include memory loss, difficulty performing familiar tasks, problems with language and changes in personality
- There is currently no cure for dementia, but a range of support is available for people with dementia and their carers
- Dementia knows no social, economic, or ethnic boundaries
- Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. Other causes include vascular disease, dementia with Lewy bodies and fronto-temporal dementia
Figures
- There are currently estimated to be over 55 million people worldwide living with dementia. The number of people affected is set to rise to 139 million by 2050, with the greatest increases in low and middle income countries
- Already 60% of people with dementia live in low and middle income countries, but by 2050 this will rise to 71%
- A new case of dementia arises somewhere in the world every 3 seconds
- Up to three quarters of those with dementia worldwide have not received a diagnosis
- Almost 80% of the general public are concerned about developing dementia at some point and 1 in 4 people think that there is nothing we can do to prevent dementia.
- Almost 62% of healthcare practitioners worldwide incorrectly think that dementia is part of normal ageing
- 35% of carers across the world said that they have hidden the diagnosis of dementia of a family member
- Over 50% of carers globally say their health has suffered as a result of their caring responsibilities even whilst expressing positive sentiments about their role
There are many factors which have been linked to the development of dementia. Some are risk factors, while others appear to be protective.
Risk factors are characteristics that appear to have some relationship to the development of a disease. If these risk factors are present, there is an increased chance, but not a certainty, that the disease will develop. For example, not everyone who smokes develops heart disease and not everyone with heart disease has been a smoker. However, smoking is a strong risk factor for heart disease.
Some risk factors can be modified, for example lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of a stroke. Other risk factors cannot be modified, such as age or family history.
Risk factors for dementia
The greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias is increasing age. Although age increases risk, dementia is not a normal part of ageing.
We know there are more than 20 genes which affect a person’s risk of developing dementia. The gene APOE was the first known to increases a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, and it is still the strongest risk gene known. There are also genes which directly cause dementia, but these deterministic genes are rare – they are estimated to account for less than 1% of dementia cases, and cause young-onset forms in which symptoms usually develop before the age of 60.
Women are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than men, even accounting for the fact that women live longer on average. The reasons for this are unclear.
Modifiable risk factors
Although we can’t change our genes or stop ageing, there are changes that we can make to reduce our risk of dementia, either lifestyle changes as individuals or wider changes across society. A growing body of research evidence exists for 12 potentially modifiable risk factors. We might prevent or delay up to 40% of cases of dementia, if we were able to modify all of the risk factors.
Although behaviour change is difficult and some associations might not be causal, individuals have a huge potential to reduce their dementia risk. Many of the risk factors are also shared with other non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases.
Keeping active, eating well and engaging in social activities all promote good brain health and may reduce your risk of developing dementia. Keeping your heart healthy, including by avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, can lower your risk of dementia and other diseases too.
The following is a list of risk factors for dementia along with suggestions of how to counteract them and reduce risk.
Physical inactivity
Regular physical activity is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of dementia. It’s good for your heart, circulation, weight and mental wellbeing. It is recommended that adults aim for either 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity each week.
Smoking
Smoking greatly increases your risk of developing dementia. You’re also increasing your risk of other conditions, including type 2 diabetes, stroke, and lung and other cancers. It’s never too late – stopping smoking later in life also reduces the risk of dementia.
Excessive alcohol consumption
Alcohol misuse and drinking more than 21 units weekly increase the risk of dementia. The harmful use of alcohol is a causal factor in more than 200 disease and injury conditions. There is a causal relationship between harmful use of alcohol and a range of mental and behavioural disorders, other noncommunicable diseases as well as injuries.
Air pollution
A growing amount of research evidence shows that air pollution increases the risk of dementia. Policymakers should expedite improvements in air quality, particularly in areas with high air pollution.
Head injury
Head injuries are most commonly caused by car, motorcycle, and bicycle accidents; military exposures; boxing, football, hockey and other sports; firearms and violent assaults; and falls. Policymakers should use public health and other policy measures to reduce head injuries.
Infrequent social contact
It is well established that social connectedness reduces the risk of dementia. Social contact enhances cognitive reserve or encourages beneficial behaviours. There is not much evidence for any specific activity protecting against dementia. Joining a club or community group are good ways to stay socially active.
Less education
A low level of education in early life affects cognitive reserve and is one of the most significant risk factors for dementia. Policy should prioritise childhood education for all.
Obesity
Particularly in mid-life, obesity is associated with an increased risk of dementia. Obesity is also associated with other NCDs and can generally be addressed through lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise.
Hypertension
Hypertension (high blood pressure) in mid-life increases a person’s risk of dementia, as well as causing other health problems. Medication for hypertension is the only known effective preventive medication for dementia.
Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a clear risk factor for development of future dementia. Whether any particular medication helps with this is unclear, but treatment of diabetes is important for other health reasons.
Depression
Depression is associated with dementia incidence. Depression is part of the prodrome of dementia (a symptom that occurs before the symptoms that are used for diagnosis). It is not clear to what extent dementia may be caused by depression or the reverse, and both may be the case. In any case, it is important to manage and treat depression because is associated with increased disability, physical illnesses and worse outcomes for people with dementia.
Hearing impairment
People with hearing loss have a significantly increased risk of dementia. Using hearing aids seems to reduce the risk. As hearing loss is one of the risk factors which affects the most people, addressing it could result in a large impact on the number of people developing dementia.
Every person is unique and dementia affects people differently – no two people will have symptoms that develop in exactly the same way. An individual’s personality, general health and social situation are all important factors in determining the impact of dementia on them.
Symptoms vary between Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia, but there are broad similarities between them all. The most common early signs of dementia are memory loss and a reduction in practical abilities, which can lead to withdrawal from work or social activities. If you think that these problems are affecting your daily life, or the life of someone you know, you should talk to your doctor, or encourage them to talk to theirs.
Early symptoms of dementia
Memory loss
Declining memory, especially short-term memory (remembering things that have happened recently), is the most common early symptom of dementia. People with ordinary forgetfulness can still remember other facts associated with the thing they have forgotten. For example, they may briefly forget their next-door neighbour’s name but they still know the person they are talking to is their next-door neighbour. A person living with dementia may not only forget their neighbour’s name but also the context. Memories for things that happened long ago may be preserved over recent events.
Difficulty performing familiar tasks
People with dementia often find it hard to complete everyday tasks that are so familiar that we usually do them without thinking. Someone with dementia may not know in what order to put on clothes or the steps for preparing a meal.
Problems with language
Occasionally everyone has trouble finding the right word but a person with dementia can often forget simple words or substitutes unusual words, making speech or writing hard to understand. They may also have difficulties following a conversation and therefore become more withdrawn.
Disorientation in time and place
We all sometimes forget the day of the week or where we are going momentarily but people with dementia can become lost in familiar places such as the road they live in, forget where they are or how they got there, and not know how to get back home. Someone who has dementia may also confuse night and day.
Poor or decreased judgement
People with dementia may dress inappropriately, wearing several layers of clothes on a warm day or very few on a cold day.
Problems with concentration, planning or organising
A person with dementia may find it difficult to make decisions, solve problems, or keep up with paying their bills.
Misplacing things
Anyone can temporarily misplace his or her wallet or keys. A person with dementia may put things in unusual places such as an iron in the fridge or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl.
Changes in mood or behaviour
Everyone can become sad or moody from time to time. Dementia may cause someone to become unusually emotional and experience rapid mood swings or irritability for no apparent reason. Alternatively they may show less emotion or social interaction than was usual previously.
The trouble with images or spatial relationships
Image problems are different from typical age-related problems, such as cataracts. People with dementia can have difficulty in reading, judging distances, seeing objects in three dimensions and in determining colour or contrast.
Withdrawal from work or social activities
At times everyone can become tired of housework, business activities, or social obligations. However a person with dementia may become very passive, sitting in front of the television for hours, sleeping more than usual, or appearing to lose interest in hobbies.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms or are concerned about a friend or relative, visit your doctor and discuss your concerns.
If you are experiencing memory problems or are having difficulties in performing everyday tasks, it’s important to make an appointment with your doctor or General Practitioner (GP).
There may be reasons, other than dementia, for the problems that you are experiencing. Speaking to a healthcare practitioner will likely provide you with more information and clarity.
If you have been diagnosed with dementia, finding this out can come as a shock, even if you have felt that something was not quite right. You may have lots of questions about what this means, what happens next with your family, how this could impact on your work and your social life, and who can help you.
It is important to know that you are not alone. You may be able to get help, support and further information from:
- Alzheimer and dementia associations in your country and from other voluntary groups
- Your doctor
- Health and social workers
- Your family and friends
- Counsellors
