Knowledge is power: Ask about dementia, ask about Alzheimer’s

One in two people will be affected by dementia, either by caring for someone with the condition, developing it themselves, or both.

During September, World Alzheimer’s Month is observed. It is a time to raise awareness about dementia, challenge the stigma that surrounds it, and show support for the millions of people living with the condition, their families, and their caregivers.

Throughout September, the Association for Dementia and Alzheimer’s of South Africa NPC (Adasa) will be sharing daily facts and resources to educate and empower the community.

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Knowledge is power, and together we can create a more dementia-friendly society.

Here are some facts to help identify this loss of cognitive functioning or reduce the risk thereof:

• Activities such as smoking and alcohol misuse (for instance, drinking more than 21 units weekly) greatly increases your risk of developing dementia.
• People with hearing loss have a significantly increased risk of dementia.
• Depression is part of the prodrome of dementia.
• Some eye conditions such as cataracts or diabetic retinopathy can increase the risk.
• Keeping active, eating well, and engaging in social activities promote good brain health and may reduce your risk.
• Declining memory, especially short-term memory, is the most common early symptom of dementia.
• People with dementia can become lost in familiar places such as the road they live in.
• A person with dementia may find it difficult to make decisions and solve problems.
• A person with dementia becomes very passive, sitting for hours, sleeping more, or loses interest in hobbies.
• Hypertension (high blood pressure) increases a person’s risk of dementia.
• Dementia may cause unusual emotional and rapid mood swings or irritability for no apparent reason.
• A person with dementia may misplace things in unusual places.
• It usually affects older people − it can develop in younger people but is less common.
• It is chronic and progressive and causes irreversible damage to brain cells. There is no cure.
• Dementia is not a part of normal aging.
• The estimated growth of people living with dementia is set to rise from 55 million in 2019 to 139 million in 2050.
• Dementia is the seventh leading cause of death and one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people globally.
• Source: Facebook / Alzheimer’s South Africa (Adasa)
  
• Visit adasa.org.za or Alzheimer’s South Africa (Adasa) on Facebook, or dial 0860 102 681 for more information.
• Have a question? #AskAboutDementia. Want to understand more? #AskAboutAlzheimers.