The definition of dementia provided by the Alzheimer’s Society is:
A broad term for a range of symptoms that occur as a result of damage to your brain. It's more likely to affect you if you are over 65 - this is late-onset dementia. Dementia occurring before this age is called early-onset. Diseases such as Alzheimer's disease lead to dementia. You may also develop dementia if small blood vessels become blocked in your brain. Your brain is made up of billions of nerve cells (neurons) and these form complicated networks. Usually signals from your body or from outside pass between nerve cells across small gaps (synapses). Messages travel around your brain in this way and produce a response to the original signal. This process is helped by chemicals called neurotransmitters. If you have dementia, the nerve cells in your brain aren't working properly and your brain can't correctly process the signals going to it. You may have problems communicating, remembering things and carrying out daily activities. Usually, it won't be possible to cure your dementia, but some medicines can slow down its progress.
Symptoms
You may have some or all of the following symptoms if you have dementia.
- You will have memory loss, particularly of recent events. This may not be severe at first but is likely to become progressively worse. Later, your long-term memory may be affected.
- You may have problems finding the right words for what you want to say.
- It's possible that you will have trouble thinking clearly and doing practical tasks that you used to do easily.
- You may feel puzzled and disorientated in new places. As dementia progresses, you may have difficulty finding your way around in familiar places, such as your own home.
- The feeling of disorientation may increase so you don't know what month or year it is, or the time of day. This could cause you to get up in the middle of the night wanting to go out.
- Family and friends may notice changes in your personality and behaviour. You may become withdrawn, prone to fits of temper, or anxious and depressed.
- As your dementia worsens, you may no longer be able to look after yourself. It's possible that eventually you won't recognise close relatives and friends.
Dementia is progressive and in time your symptoms will get more severe. It affects everyone differently - this is determined by factors such as your personality and the support available to you. Depending on what is causing your dementia symptoms, its course will vary. If it's a result of Alzheimer's disease, it will be degenerative (continue to get worse). It's often difficult to predict the rate at which vascular dementia will progress.
Your symptoms may stay the same for some time and deterioration will be patchy. In vascular dementia, the blood vessels (vascular system) in your brain become blocked. Not enough blood and oxygen reach the nerve cells so they die. Areas of brain tissue that have died this way are called infarcts, so vascular dementia is also called multi-infarct dementia. This is the second most common type. Health conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes may raise your risk of this, as does eating a diet high in salt and fat. It's difficult to say how long you will live once you are diagnosed with dementia - the type you have influences this. The average life expectancy for people with Alzheimer's disease is six years.
The Department of Health held a public consultation on a National
Dementia Strategy. The consultation ran from 19 June to 11 September 2008 and drew on
evidence from a wide range of reports and stakeholders, a series of listening
events involving over 3,000 people and the recommendations of an External Reference
Group.
The Peterborough branch of the Alzheimer’s Society aims to give support and advice on all forms of dementia and the sources of help that are available in Peterborough. They cover the Greater Peterborough area which goes North as far as Glinton, East to Stanground, North East to Thorney, South to Yaxley and Stilton and West to Elton. They operate an 'Open House' policy from their offices in Manor House Street, Central Peterborough each weekday morning, for advice and information or just a friendly chat. Should you wish to make an appointment to see a member of staff please call Kevin Bowyer, Branch Manager on 01733 893853. The branch is pleased to be able to offer an Advocare service including 'Pathways for Men' and a 'Pathways for Women' Groups. They also offer a Carer's group, an outreach service for both carers and people with dementia, as well as a Pals service (this a scheme that enables people who are still physically fit, but who experience some degree of mental disability due to dementia, to continue to enjoy leisure activities with the support of a 'Pal'). Regular outings and a varied choice of leisure activities are also available. Information fact sheets about dementia are available to read and download from the National website, alternatively copies are available at the branch.
The Huntingdonshire Branch of the Alzheimer's Society aims to give support and information on all types of dementia and sources of help and support that are available in the Huntingdonshire area. The area covered by the Branch starts in the north on the boundaries of Peterborough and south to St Neots, from Earith in the east to the borders of the county in the west. The Branch offers a telephone and outreach service for families in the community. Anyone can contact the Branch for help or support by contacting either David or Davina on 01480 415235. The Branch runs a support group for carers in St Ives, St Neots and Huntingdon, with a drop-in centre opening in the new year at Ramsey Rainbow Surgery, for both carers and people with a dementia. The Branch also organises a pub lunch in St Ives, St Neots and Huntingdon for cared for and the carers and family members. The Branch runs a course for carers – Caring with Confidence – giving information about dementia, challenging behaviour, legal matters, moving and handling and communication skills amongst other topics. Facts sheets are available from the Societies website and the Branch.
