Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia – a condition that affects over 47 million people worldwide. Yet it is often hidden away, not spoken about, or ignored at a time when the person living with dementia and their family are most in need of support.

What is dementia?

Dementia is a word used to describe a group of symptoms that occur when brain cells stop working properly. Although each person will experience dementia in their own way, eventually those affected are unable to care for themselves and will need help with all aspects of daily life as the brain is permanently damaged.

It is not, however, a normal part of ageing.

The most common symptoms include loss of memory, mood changes, problems with thinking, orientation, understanding, calculation, learning capacity, language, and judgement.

Dementia can be confused with depression; the effects of some medications; acute confusional states most commonly caused by infection (urinary, chest or kidney); dehydration; or constipation. So, it’s important to get a proper diagnosis from a qualified healthcare professional.

What are the statistics?

Worldwide, 47.5 million people have dementia, with 9.9 million new cases every year, which is one new case every three seconds. 

What are the common types of dementia?

There are over 100 types of dementia but the most common forms are:

    Alzheimer's disease
    Vascular dementia
    Dementia with Lewy Bodies
    Fronto-temporal dementia