Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Dementias

Introduction

Who is this book for?

•           You think your memory is going?

•           Your father/mother is behaving oddly?

•           Is it Alzheimer’s disease?

•           Is Alzheimer’s disease the same as dementia?

If these are the sorts of questions that you are asking yourself, this book is for you. Dementia is a disease of the brain. First we define dementia before going on to list the symptoms. This chapter helps you decide whether you, a member of your family or a friend may have dementia.

Next we discuss treatment and how to get help, and after that we give some tips on how to make the best of life if you or a loved one is found to have dementia. Then we consider how future developments may change the outlook for people with dementia, and describe some common questions and give some answers. Finally, we describe how the brain works. Some of that chapter is a bit technical; you may decide to skip it.

There is a lot of myth and misinformation about dementia. This book is intended for anyone who has, or may be worried that they or their family and friends have, dementia.

It is also for people who live or work with someone with dementia. We hope that by reading this book you will have a better understanding of what causes the illness and how it is diagnosed and treated.

What is dementia?

‘Dementia’ is a term used to describe any condition where a variety of different brain functions such as memory, thinking, recognition, language, planning and personality deteriorate over time.

Dementia is not part of normal ageing. Everyone gets more forgetful as they get older; that does not mean that they have dementia. The most common type of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, but there are several other types.

Who gets dementia?

Dementia is common. It is estimated that there are almost three-quarters of a million people with dementia in the UK and this number is rising. As people get older the risk of dementia increases rapidly. It is estimated that one in six people aged over 80 years has some type of dementia.

Dementia can affect anyone. Prominent people such as Ronald Reagan, Harold Wilson, Margaret Thatcher, Iris Murdoch, Terry Pratchett and many other well-known names from all walks of life have developed dementia. It is a global problem, occurring in all ethnic groups and social classes. No one is immune.

It is important to recognise when someone may have dementia. A swift and accurate diagnosis is important while people can still plan their lives and have a say in their treatment. Getting a diagnosis is also helpful to explain why someone isn’t getting on as well as they used to and ensures that they get the necessary help. It is also reassuring to be told if you don’t have dementia.

Facts and figures about dementia

Dementia is common; about one in every 90 people in the UK has dementia. In 2008, it was estimated that there were 700,000 people in the UK with dementia and this will rise to 1 million by 2025.

Dementia is rare below the age of 65, but can occur in people as young as 30. About 1 in 20 people over the age of 65 has dementia, rising to about 1 in 6 of people aged over 80. Dementia is becoming more common because the biggest risk factor for dementia is getting older and people are living longer.

About two-thirds of people with dementia live at home. Almost three-quarters of people living in care homes have dementia. People who develop dementia often live for many years with the condition. It is not uncommon for someone to live seven to ten years after a diagnosis and then to die of something else. Nearly everyone who has dementia will get worse over time and many people will eventually need to be cared for because they cannot live safely alone.

Diagnosing and treating dementia

The prospect of receiving a diagnosis of dementia is frightening. Other conditions such as depression and some physical illnesses (for example, Parkinson’s disease) can look like dementia. Dementia can be diagnosed only after careful assessment by a doctor.

In the last 15 years there has been a great deal of research into treatments of dementia and drugs are now available to treat memory loss and problems with thinking. There has also been a lot of progress in understanding how someone with dementia, and families and carers, can be supported.

In this book we describe how dementia is diagnosed and treated. It is important to remember that not all the services and facilities described in this book are available in all areas.

Living with dementia

People with dementia can have a good quality of life with help, support and quality care. Dementia is not just about memory loss. Many other problems can occur during the course of the illness including anxiety, depression, wandering, incontinence and aggression. These can be helped too, and we have included practical advice to help cope with the day-to-day problems that can occur in dementia.

Throughout this book we have used examples to illustrate some of the problems and difficulties. Although these are based on real patients, we have changed the details to ensure anonymity.

KEY POINTS

•        The term ‘dementia’ is used to describe the symptoms that occur when the brain is affected by specific diseases and conditions

•        Dementia is not part of normal ageing

•        Dementia is common, affecting almost 700,000 people in the UK