Dementia

Many of us will experience Dementia at some point in our lives. This could be due to a loved one, a friend or even yourself having the condition.  Do we know enough about it though?

The Mental Health Foundation, http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/ have put the spotlight on this condition in a hope to raise more awareness meaning we can spot the signs sooner and get the help and support needed.

Dementia is a common condition that affects around 800,000 people across the UK. The risk increases as you get older with mainly over 65's being affected. The conditions is a deterioration of brain cells or damage to certain parts of the brain.

Symptoms include:

• lack of blood/oxygen supply to these brain areas
• head injury e.g. from boxing or whip lash after a car crash
• pressure on the brain e.g. from a tumour
• hydrocephalus (fluid build-up between the brain and the brain lining)
• neurological disease e.g. Parkinson's disease, Creutzfeld Jakob disease (CJD)
• infection e.g. AIDS
• vitamin deficiency
• a long period of excessive alcohol intake

Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia yet they do not know what causes this.

Sadly there is no cure for the condition. There are many support groups and self help guides that can give you information and the groups can provide a place to go where carers are with people who are in the same situation and gives sufferers a place to socialise and get help too.

More on Dementia can be found at http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/help-information/mental-health-a-z/D/dementia/