What is dementia?
Dementia is a general term used to describe a disease of the brain, usually progressive, in which there is a disturbance in the higher cortical functions, including memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, learning capacity, language, and judgment. The impairment of cognitive function is commonly accompanied and occasionally preceded by deterioration in emotional control, social behaviour or motivation.
Is Alzheimer’s disease the main cause of dementia?
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, accounting for nearly 60% of all dementias. It is a degenerative disease of the brain usually affecting people after 65 years. Progressive loss of memory is one of the most important presenting symptoms. Other forms are vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia and mixed dementia.
Does it only affect the elderly or are youngsters prone to it as well?
Dementia usually affects the elderly, but younger people also could be affected. It could affect younger people in their 40s and 50s; this comes under early-onset Alzheimer’s.
How crucial is it to detect Alzheimer’s early?
It is important to have a diagnosis as early as possible. This helps in planning the management and life ahead. Although the currently available medications are not creative, it will help in maintaining the cognition in the initial stage of the disease.
What are the earliest symptoms that family members should look out for early detection?
Increasing forgetfulness is one of the most important symptoms, which should make the family and friends suspect that something is going wrong. However, in about twenty percent of cases, behavioural problems may precede memory loss.
Are there any definite signs that indicate that a person will get Alzheimer’s?
There are no physical or racial backgrounds that are associated with this condition. However, people with the presence of the gene APOE4 may carry a higher risk than the general population.
Are Indians less likely or more likely to develop Alzheimer’s compared to citizens of other countries?
Dementia is a global epidemic. It is the consequence of population greying. Along with increase in longevity people become more prone to conditions like dementia. Thus dementia is a global health problem with no significant difference between various countries.
Are there any myths surrounding Alzheimer’s? If so, what are the main ones?
Many people consider to dementia as part of aging. Some see it as a mental disease. In some societies in Asia and Africa people attribute it to some kind of possession by evil spirits.
Has there been any significant breakthrough in research on curing or preventing Alzheimer’s?
Despite the fact that Alzheimer’s disease has been described as a disease entity more than 100 years ago, we still don’t know the actual cause. Although extensive research has been going on in several countries in the West, investing billions of dollars, the progress in finding the cause and cures have been slow. However we know the risk factors: they are smoking, excessive alcohol, lack of exercise, fat food, head injury, uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes, lack of social engagement etc.
What is the general effect of Alzheimer’s on the family of the patient?
It has a profound impact on the family, particularly on the closer relatives. In fact, many a time, a family member bears the brunt of the disease, while the affected person is mostly oblivious of what is happening around. There is lot of stigma attached to dementia. So friends and relatives avoid the family. Financially it could be a big drain. In most cases, primary caregivers have to forego their job to dedicate all the time for care-giving as the disease progress. Generally women tend to get the disease more than men, for reasons not well known.
How do caregivers cope with looking after the patient?
Caring for a person with dementia is an extremely demanding situation. It is a 24 hours, 365 days a year job, so taxing that the person hardly gets any rest. Because of ignorance, people around may even accuse them of not doing enough for the person with dementia. Unless the whole family comes round and shares the responsibility the carers may break down. They are certainly quite prone for depression.