Defeating dementia

Defeating dementia

What is dementia?

Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning—thinking, remembering, and reasoning—and behavioral abilities to such an extent that it interferes with a person's daily life and activities.

What is Alzheimer’s disease?

Alzheimer's disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. In most people with the disease—those with the late-onset type—symptoms first appear in their mid-60s.

People just didn’t talk about dementia 40 years ago.

People just didn’t talk about dementia 40 years ago.

The annual cost of caring for someone with dementia is more than the average salary.

Age is the primary risk factor for dementia.

“There seems to be huge potential for further progress – if we don’t destroy it”, says Kaare Christensen.

• “There seems to be huge potential for further progress – if we don’t destroy it”, says Kaare Christensen.
• How well our minds function in old age is a major determinant of our quality of life.

Dementia is a general breakdown of the intellect and personality, with disintegration of memory, attention and emotional control.

• Dementia is a general breakdown of the intellect and personality, with disintegration of memory, attention and emotional control.
• About two-thirds of dementia cases are caused by Alzheimer’s disease, in which neurons die off amid didtinctive clumps of protein.
• The next most common form is vascular dementia, caused by deterioration of the brain’s blood vessels and often involving minor strokes.