Dementia is a condition that seems to be in the news and in the minds of many people especially as we are starting to live much longer. But there are many preconceptions that come with the condition which means that for the general public it can difficult to understand. In recent years that have been remarkable breakthroughs as well as clinical studies of patients with dementia have led to some incredible findings. For example, the discovery of the genetic mutations that cause Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia has led to a greater understanding on the disease and the development of treatments. There are worldwide clinical studies underway looking at families with these mutations and the ways that their brains function.
It is common for people to assume that dementia is an inevitable part of aging and this is not the case. There are young people who have developed dementia in one form or another and many older people who never experience the condition. It is also important to remember that dementia itself is not a disease but an umbrella term for a much wider variety of issues that include Alzheimer’s.
Equally those suffering with dementia symptoms don’t only experience memory loss but there can be a variety of changes in a person and these can differ for each individual. They can include mood swings and changes in personality, confusion, hallucinations, difficulty in verbally communicating with others and problems with perception and distance. Despite the plethora of symptoms that someone can experience it is still possible to live a very independent life and there are many people across the world who with a few tweaks to their daily life are continuing to be very independent and Dementia Care Home Bridgwater companies can help people in all stages of Dementia.
Interestingly it is thought that dementia affects women more than men and it is the leading cause of death for women in the United Kingdom. This could be because we are living longer and there are more women in their 80s than ever before, but it is hard to pinpoint an exact reason why this is the case. It is thought that around 47 million people across the world are living with dementia and unlike many views it is not a condition that is limited only to western society.
It is incredibly important that more research is undertaken into dementia to help fun new treatments and drugs to help the disease. At present the medication given helps to deal with some of the symptoms but there is no treatment that can stop or slow the progress of the dementia and many organisations are working day in day out to find a cure.