Dismissing dementia myths

Dementia isn’t something a lot of people learn about at a younger age and there is a lot of misconception surrounding it, so we’ve decided to give people the lowdown on some of the biggest myths out there.

According to the Alzheimer’s Society, there are currently 850,000 people with the condition in the UK, with numbers set to rise to more than one million by 2025, so it’s incredibly important that more people are made aware of the truth behind the condition and learn as much as they can about it:

You will get dementia when you get old

One in six people over the age of 80 have it and the likelihood of developing it rises with age, however it is not a given that everyone will develop it in old age.

There’s nothing we can do about it

While there is no test or cure for the disease there are lots of things you can do to help prevent it and keep your brain healthy. It’s important to maintain a healthy diet and keep blood pressure and cholesterol in check. There are lots of ways you can reduce your risk of developing the condition by leading a healthy lifestyle.

It is hereditary

If a parent or older relative has dementia, this does not mean you will definitely have it too. Less than 1% of all cases are from a gene being passed down in families. Most people will develop it as a result of a combination of age, lifestyle and health.

It’s just being ‘forgetful’

Memory loss can be a symptom of dementia, however the condition affects people in many ways. It can cause changes in behaviour, confusion and disorientation as well as causing difficulty in communicating. It can also lead to decreased or poor judgement, mood swings and trouble understand visual and spatial relationships. Everyone who has dementia will experience it in a different way.