Almost 55,000 people in Ireland are living with dementia. That includes 4,000 people under the age of 65.
However, the illness ripples out to affect the lives of 10 times more people than that – the 500,000 family members, friends and carers around those who develop it.
The term dementia is used to describe a number of conditions that cause gradual damage to the brain. Alzheimer’s is the most common and well-known type of dementia.
The disease of dementia tangles and plaques the proteins in the brain, leading to the death of brain cells. There is currently no cure for it. Because of our ageing population, the figure is expected to almost treble in a generation – from 55,000 now to 147,000 by 2041.
But how can we help reduce our risk of getting dementia?
Tina Leonard of the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland has some pointers.
“The biggest risk factor in developing dementia is age but there is nothing we can do about that. We all hope to live long and well,” the head of advocacy and public affairs says.
THINK LINK BETWEEN BRAIN & BODY HEALTH
“The important thing (to help avoid developing this brain illness) is to stay healthy, keep the brain active and stay socially involved.”
She has an important reminder about not forgetting to connect physical health with brain health.
“Think about your physical health linking to your brain health. I’m not sure that people do that really,” she says.
“We all know the health messages about not smoking and not drinking too much and keeping our hearts healthy, but I don’t think we always associate that with our brain health as well. We need to keep our hearts, bodies and brains healthy in order to reduce the risk of developing any of the different types of dementia.”
COGNITIVE RESERVE
The other important element that we have to be aware of is the importance of building cognitive reserve.
“It is about building this ‘bank’ with the continuous use of your brain in terms of thinking and talking and socialising,” she says.
“Most of us do that all through our lives – studying, working, learning as you go and, of course, your brain is plastic and it’s growing and changing all the time so you’re keeping it going by learning.”
Being mindful of keeping our brains working all the time is very important, she says.
“Learning a language or trying a new skill is really vital because there is some evidence showing that when the brain is fitter or stronger in that way, cognitive reserve has a protective factor against illness and disease, which is what dementia is – a physical illness. Then there is all the other physical stuff we need to do to keep our body healthy.”
Socialising IS VERY IMPORTANT
Socialisation is very important for robust health for us all, she adds, but also after diagnosis with dementia.
“It’s important, especially in those earlier stages when maybe someone has been diagnosed very early and there is still plenty of brain capacity there but there are cognitive challenges.
“Again, studies have shown that staying socially involved – talking to people, going out to things – can have as positive an effect on some people as some of the drugs that are available. That just shows how powerful socialisation is.”
However, those newly-diagnosed don’t always want to do that.
“The unfortunate thing is that some people, once they have a diagnosis, will just retreat – but it’s a natural response. You can imagine why people are scared and we do hear from people a lot on our helpline about how they feel depressed and low and don’t want to leave the house, but that’s the worst thing you can do for your health.”
VISIT THOSE FACING CHALLENGES
Tina Leonard asks Irish Country Living readers to think of people in their locality or families who are coping with these kinds of challenges and to visit and engage with them.
“Support from friends and neighbours is important too,” she says.
RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH DEMENTIA
• Age – Dementia affects one person in 70 aged 65 to 70 years. This rises to one person in five over 80 years of age.• Genetics – The role of genetics isn’t fully understood but there are some rare forms of dementia believed to be passed from generation to generation.• Lifestyle – There is growing evidence that lifestyle can impact our chances of developing dementia, but we can reduce our risk by making changes and eating well, not smoking, not drinking too much alcohol and exercising more (see tips section).EARLY DIAGNOSIS CAN DELAY PROGRESSION
Putting strategies in place to get through the day better, eg by using notebooks to remember things and timers for reminders, can help delay dementia to some degree, she adds.
“That’s why early diagnosis is so important. If someone can be shown to put strategies in place to get through the day better – things that don’t cost very much – like using notebooks and timers to aid them to get through the day for example, it will all help. Being social and engaged with people plays a part in that as well. The brain is then still growing, still learning, still doing things.
“These kinds of strategies are not going to stop progression of dementia but there’s certainly a chance there of progression not happening as fast perhaps.”
TIPS FOR REDUCING YOUR RISK – AND WHY
While there is no certain way of preventing all types of dementia, there are a few things you can do, including those mentioned above, to lower your risk of developing it when you get older.
• Eat a healthy diet – low fat, high fibre, low salt, plenty of fruit, vegetables and wholegrains. Too much salt increases blood pressure which puts you at risk of developing some types of dementia, as do high cholesterol levels. • Maintain a healthy weight – being overweight can increase your blood pressure, which increases your risk of dementia.• Exercise regularly – this keeps your heart and blood circulatory system healthy, thus reducing your risk.• Don’t drink too much alcohol – excessive alcohol causes blood pressure and cholesterol levels to rise.• Stop smoking (if you smoke) – again it affects your heart health which can increase your risk of developing dementia. • Keep your blood pressure at a healthy levelSIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DEMENTIA
• Memory loss.• Difficulties finding the right word.• Changes in mood and behaviours.• Getting confused in familiar surroundings.• Finding it difficult to follow conversations or TV programmes or reading.• Difficulty managing money and everyday tasks.• Difficulty solving problems or doing puzzles.• Loss of interest in hobbies and pastimes.• Repeating a question or story several times without realising.
Almost 55,000 people in Ireland are living with dementia. That includes 4,000 people under the age of 65.
However, the illness ripples out to affect the lives of 10 times more people than that – the 500,000 family members, friends and carers around those who develop it.
The term dementia is used to describe a number of conditions that cause gradual damage to the brain. Alzheimer’s is the most common and well-known type of dementia.
The disease of dementia tangles and plaques the proteins in the brain, leading to the death of brain cells. There is currently no cure for it. Because of our ageing population, the figure is expected to almost treble in a generation – from 55,000 now to 147,000 by 2041.
But how can we help reduce our risk of getting dementia?
Tina Leonard of the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland has some pointers.
“The biggest risk factor in developing dementia is age but there is nothing we can do about that. We all hope to live long and well,” the head of advocacy and public affairs says.
THINK LINK BETWEEN BRAIN & BODY HEALTH
“The important thing (to help avoid developing this brain illness) is to stay healthy, keep the brain active and stay socially involved.”
She has an important reminder about not forgetting to connect physical health with brain health.
“Think about your physical health linking to your brain health. I’m not sure that people do that really,” she says.
“We all know the health messages about not smoking and not drinking too much and keeping our hearts healthy, but I don’t think we always associate that with our brain health as well. We need to keep our hearts, bodies and brains healthy in order to reduce the risk of developing any of the different types of dementia.”
COGNITIVE RESERVE
The other important element that we have to be aware of is the importance of building cognitive reserve.
“It is about building this ‘bank’ with the continuous use of your brain in terms of thinking and talking and socialising,” she says.
“Most of us do that all through our lives – studying, working, learning as you go and, of course, your brain is plastic and it’s growing and changing all the time so you’re keeping it going by learning.”
Being mindful of keeping our brains working all the time is very important, she says.
“Learning a language or trying a new skill is really vital because there is some evidence showing that when the brain is fitter or stronger in that way, cognitive reserve has a protective factor against illness and disease, which is what dementia is – a physical illness. Then there is all the other physical stuff we need to do to keep our body healthy.”
Socialising IS VERY IMPORTANT
Socialisation is very important for robust health for us all, she adds, but also after diagnosis with dementia.
“It’s important, especially in those earlier stages when maybe someone has been diagnosed very early and there is still plenty of brain capacity there but there are cognitive challenges.
“Again, studies have shown that staying socially involved – talking to people, going out to things – can have as positive an effect on some people as some of the drugs that are available. That just shows how powerful socialisation is.”
However, those newly-diagnosed don’t always want to do that.
“The unfortunate thing is that some people, once they have a diagnosis, will just retreat – but it’s a natural response. You can imagine why people are scared and we do hear from people a lot on our helpline about how they feel depressed and low and don’t want to leave the house, but that’s the worst thing you can do for your health.”
VISIT THOSE FACING CHALLENGES
Tina Leonard asks Irish Country Living readers to think of people in their locality or families who are coping with these kinds of challenges and to visit and engage with them.
“Support from friends and neighbours is important too,” she says.
RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH DEMENTIA
• Age – Dementia affects one person in 70 aged 65 to 70 years. This rises to one person in five over 80 years of age.• Genetics – The role of genetics isn’t fully understood but there are some rare forms of dementia believed to be passed from generation to generation.• Lifestyle – There is growing evidence that lifestyle can impact our chances of developing dementia, but we can reduce our risk by making changes and eating well, not smoking, not drinking too much alcohol and exercising more (see tips section).EARLY DIAGNOSIS CAN DELAY PROGRESSION
Putting strategies in place to get through the day better, eg by using notebooks to remember things and timers for reminders, can help delay dementia to some degree, she adds.
“That’s why early diagnosis is so important. If someone can be shown to put strategies in place to get through the day better – things that don’t cost very much – like using notebooks and timers to aid them to get through the day for example, it will all help. Being social and engaged with people plays a part in that as well. The brain is then still growing, still learning, still doing things.
“These kinds of strategies are not going to stop progression of dementia but there’s certainly a chance there of progression not happening as fast perhaps.”
TIPS FOR REDUCING YOUR RISK – AND WHY
While there is no certain way of preventing all types of dementia, there are a few things you can do, including those mentioned above, to lower your risk of developing it when you get older.
• Eat a healthy diet – low fat, high fibre, low salt, plenty of fruit, vegetables and wholegrains. Too much salt increases blood pressure which puts you at risk of developing some types of dementia, as do high cholesterol levels. • Maintain a healthy weight – being overweight can increase your blood pressure, which increases your risk of dementia.• Exercise regularly – this keeps your heart and blood circulatory system healthy, thus reducing your risk.• Don’t drink too much alcohol – excessive alcohol causes blood pressure and cholesterol levels to rise.• Stop smoking (if you smoke) – again it affects your heart health which can increase your risk of developing dementia. • Keep your blood pressure at a healthy levelSIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DEMENTIA
• Memory loss.• Difficulties finding the right word.• Changes in mood and behaviours.• Getting confused in familiar surroundings.• Finding it difficult to follow conversations or TV programmes or reading.• Difficulty managing money and everyday tasks.• Difficulty solving problems or doing puzzles.• Loss of interest in hobbies and pastimes.• Repeating a question or story several times without realising. 
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