This week is Dementia Awareness Week in the U.K. They are trying to raise awareness for the various types of dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease, Vascular dementia, Lewy Body dementia, Fronto-temporal dementia, Korsakoff’s syndrome, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, HIV-related cognitive impairment, and mild cognitive impairment. According to the World Health Organization, 35.6 million individuals have dementia, and there are 7.7 million individuals diagnosed with dementia every year. These numbers are incredible, and the World Health Organization also noted that dementia is one of the top causes of disability in older individuals.
As a caregiver, knowing the symptoms and signs of dementia can be crucial to early diagnosis and early treatment. According to the Alzheimer’s Society, these are some important symptoms of dementia:
- Is your loved one having trouble remembering recent events? Do they have little trouble remembering past events?
- Does it seem like your loved one is distressed or confused when in a familiar environment?
- Does it seem like your loved one has started repeating themselves frequently?
- Does it seem like your loved forgets the names of objects? Do they forget the names of their friends?
- Does your loved one look visibly upset or anxious when they realize they’ve forgotten something?
All of these can signal dementia, and if you begin to notice it in your loved one, talk to their primary care physician immediately. Early diagnosis is incredibly important in the treatment of dementia.
Please take some time to look at the Alzheimer’s Awareness UK website. It has some excellent resources for individuals caring for people with dementia and it has information for those worried their loved one may be developing dementia.
http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/
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