It’s estimated that over 421,000 Australians are living with dementia, and more than 1.6 million people in Australia are involved in the care of someone with dementia.
Dementia involves a decline in thinking, memory, behaviour, and mood that gets worse over time. It can’t be prevented or cured.
How much do you know about this common brain condition?
Dementia is not a single condition
It’s a banner term for a collection of symptoms.
Different names for types of dementia include:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- frontotemporal dementia
- vascular dementia
- Lewy body dementia
- Younger onset dementia
- alcohol-related brain injury
- HIV-associated dementia
- chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) dementia
- childhood dementia
- posterior cortical atrophy (PCA).
Not everyone with dementia will have the same symptoms or long-term experience.
It’s not just about forgetting where the keys are
Short-term memory loss is one symptom of dementia, but other symptoms can include:
- long-term memory loss
- finding it hard to follow instructions, or do familiar tasks
- confusion about time or place, distance or location
- problems with language and abstract thinking
- changes in personality or behaviour
- loss of interest or withdrawal from regular activities
- loss of initiative
- loss of ability to look after yourself.
Dementia doesn’t just affect the elderly
While dementia is more common in older people, younger-onset dementia (dementia affecting people under 65 years old) can affect people in their 30s and 40s.
Dementia can be caused by other conditions, or trauma
More than 100 medical conditions can lead to dementia. It can be bought on by diseases such a Parkinson’s disease or HIV/AIDS, or trauma, such as moderate or severe brain injuries, or lifestyle factors, such as excessive alcohol consumption.
There are some ways you can lower your risk of dementia
As you grow older, your risk of developing dementia increases. While you can’t do much about aging, there are other factors you can control that might lower your risk of developing dementia.
Some simple lifestyle changes including exercising regularly, healthy eating, quitting smoking and vaping, avoiding or limiting alcohol and keeping an active mind can all help to lower your chance of developing dementia.
Risk factors for dementia include:
- obesity in midlife
- smoking
- excessive alcohol consumption
- traumatic brain injuries
- high cholesterol
- high blood pressure
- diabetes
- physical inactivity
- depression
- social isolation
- air pollution.
What to do if you’re worried about dementia
If you’re worried that you or someone you know might have dementia, it’s important to talk to a doctor about it.
Symptoms of dementia, including forgetfulness, can also indicate other diseases, so it’s important to get a diagnosis.
There isn’t one single test that tells you if someone does or doesn’t have dementia. There are several tests your doctor will do, and it make take some time before a diagnosis.
If they refuse to visit the doctor you can call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 for advice and support.
Early diagnosis of dementia can help a person with dementia and their family plan for the future and receive support and help and might enable them to access treatments that may slow down progression.