Each September, people unite from all corners of the world to raise awareness and to challenge the stigma that persists around Alzheimer’s disease and all types of dementia.
During World Alzheimer’s Month, we call on everyone, from individuals to large organisations, including every Alzheimer and dementia association globally, to support World Alzheimer’s Month by getting involved in some way.
As outlined in our World Alzheimer Report 2019, many people still wrongly believe that dementia is a normal ageing. This alone highlights how important public awareness campaigns, like World Alzheimer’s Month, are for changing perceptions and increasing existing public knowledge around dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
This year’s theme, ‘Know Dementia, Know Alzheimer’s,’ continues on from the 2021 campaign, which focused on diagnosis, the warning signs of dementia, the continued effect of COVID-19 on the global dementia community and more.
Today, it is believed that “Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of Dementia among older people. Dementia is a brain disorder that seriously affects a person’s ability to carry out daily activities.
AD begins slowly. It first involves the parts of the brain that control thought, memory and language. People with AD may have trouble remembering things that happened recently or names of people they know. A related problem, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), causes more memory problems than normal for people of the same age. Many, but not all, people with MCI will develop AD.
In AD, over time, symptoms get worse. People may not recognize family members or have trouble speaking, reading or writing. They may forget how to brush their teeth or comb their hair. Later on, they may become anxious or aggressive, or wander away from home. Eventually, they need total care. This can cause great stress for family members who must care for them.
AD usually begins after age 60. The risk goes up as you get older. Your risk is also higher if a family member has had the disease. No treatment can stop the disease. However, some drugs may help keep symptoms from getting worse for a limited time.”
My experience
I completely understand the struggle of Dementia, not only do I have it but so did my granny. Her’s was caused by a massive stroke. The side effects were instant and very disturbing. Granny knew something was wrong with herself and didn’t want to live that way. She often bangs her head on the wall. As she progressed, one day while gramps was out running an errand, she thought he left her at someone’s house. She didn’t recognize her home or photos in the living room. From there isn’t wasn’t long before she needed hospice care.
My Dementia is caused by Lyme disease, the virus went to my brain and caused havoc. It’s like my memories have been erased by machine gun holes. I have good days and lots of bad days which I can’t remember much, for that matter what I’m doing. I take two drugs to help slow the progression.
There is research on how to set your house up for Dementia patients so they won’t hurt themselves or walk out of the house.
Melinda
References:
https://www.dementiasociety.org/alzheimers-disease-dementia?msclkid=5cf5593a5eb31c5ee8743a22ecb4b0da
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