Are you worried about your own or a loved one’s memory?
Please make an appointment to see your GP to talk through any of your concerns. You may be referred to the memory service for further assessment and support.
Dementia is a term used for a range of conditions that affect the brain.
The brain is made up of nerve cells that communicate with each other by sending messages.
Dementia damages the nerve cells in the brain so messages can’t be sent from and to the brain effectively, which prevents the body from functioning normally.
It can affect a person at any age but it is more commonly diagnosed in people over the age of 65. A person developing dementia before age 65 is said to have young onset dementia.
There are over 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK and this is set to exceed one million by 2025.
Types of dementia
There are over 200 types of dementia, but the five most common are:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Vascular dementia
- Dementia with Lewy bodies
- Frontotemporal dementia
- Mixed dementia.
What are the symptoms?
Some symptoms of Dementia include:
- Memory problems
- Difficulties with thinking, problem solving and language
- Mood changes.
Regardless of which type of dementia is diagnosed and what part of the brain is affected, each person will experience dementia in their own unique way.
How to reduce the risk of dementia
Although getting older is the biggest risk factor for dementia, evidence shows there are things you can do to help reduce your own risk. This includes:
- Stopping/reducing smoking
- Eating a healthy diet
- Being physically active
- Reduce your alcohol intake
- Keep your mind active
- Take control of your health – get a health check from your GP’s (like an MOT for your body).