Alzheimers groups around the word unite to raise awareness about dementia

World Alzheimer's Day - September 21st 2008

World Alzheimer's Day - 21 September each year - is a day in which Alzheimer associations concentrate their efforts on raising awareness about dementia.

This year’s theme is 'No time to lose!' and is meant to recognise and celebrate the vital contribution to society made by Alzheimer’s carers.

There are an estimated 24 million people around the world who currently have dementia, and 417,000 in the UK.



What is dementia?

Dementia is a progressive, degenerative brain syndrome that affects memory, thinking, behaviour and emotion. Dementia knows no social, economic, ethnic or geographical boundaries and affects people throughout the world. As dementia progresses individuals affected need care with all aspects of daily life, worldwide families mostly provide this care.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia and accounts for 50-60% of all cases and is caused by abnormal brain tissue changes.

Who does it affect?

International studies clearly show that dementia occurs in every country of the world. Dementia affects 1 in 20 people over the age of 65 and 1 in 5 over the age of 80. Worldwide there are an estimated 30 million people with dementia. By 2050 the number will rise to over 100 million.

Recognition of the early symptoms of dementia

Dementia is surrounded by stigma and myth. Many people associate the early symptoms of dementia as a normal consequence of ageing and therefore do not come forward for the help and support that is available. Recognising the symptoms of dementia is the first step towards receiving a diagnosis. A diagnosis can help to reduce the anxiety of people with dementia and their family, allow a greater chance to benefit from existing treatments, access resources and information and provide more time to plan for the future.

Ten early symptoms of dementia:

1. Memory loss
2. Difficulty in performing everyday tasks
3. Problems with language
4. Disorientation to time and place
5. Poor or decreased judgment
6. Problems with keeping track of things
7. Misplacing things
8. Changes in mood or behaviour
9. Changes in personality
10. Loss of initiative

Information obtained from ADI (Alzheimer's Disease International), the international federation of 75 Alzheimer associations around the world. For more information on Alzheimers and other forms of dementia: www.alz.co.uk

Fact sheets on specific aspects of dementia: Alzheimer’s Society www.alzheimers.org.uk
This content was created on Sat 20 September 2008

More like this
Illnesses
News and Comment
Mental Health
Use this page



Privacy Terms | Advertisers | Legal Disclaimer | Contact
© 2007 TheFamilyGP.com