Taking place from 16 – 22 May, Dementia Action Week. Which is led by Alzheimer’s society to help towards improving the lives of those affected by Dementia.
What is Dementia?
Dementia is an umbrella term for a wide range of medical conditions caused by abnormal brain changes. These conditions affect cognitive abilities severe enough to interfere with daily life. The most common and known form of Dementia is Alzheimer’s which accounts for 60-80% of cases.
Symptoms of Dementia
The symptoms of Dementia can vary from person to person, including:
- Problems with short-term memory.
- Remembering appointments.
- Mood changes.
- Being confused about time and place.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Struggling to follow conversations.
- Sleep disturbances
Many of these conditions are progressive which means symptoms start out slowly and gradually get worse.
Some causes of Dementia
Dementia is caused by damage to the brain cells. This damage interferes with the ability of brain cells to communicate with each other. When brain cells cannot communicate normally, thinking, behaviour and feelings can be affected. As said by Alzheimer’s Association.
Ways to help towards preventing Dementia
Some risk factors to Dementia such as age and genetics cannot be changed, some steps you can do to reduce the risk is:
- Stay active
- Keep your brain active
- Eat healthy
- Drink less alcohol
- Stay mentally active
- Don’t smoke
How can I raise awareness for dementia during this time?
Below you can find a list of ways you can take action during this week
- Volunteer
- Talk about it
- Start a fundraiser or fundraise for a campaign
- Share information about dementia online
- Research more about dementia and share any knowledge you have learnt either through social media or to people in person who wish to learn more
It can be difficult to watch someone you love go through any form of Dementia, which is why spreading awareness is incredibly important, it provides information for individuals and loved ones on what happens next.
Find out more on Dementia HERE and make sure you have all the necessary skills and knowledge needed to better understand Dementia.
