Update
Blog
Written by Carla Khalil, Neuropsychologist at The Valens Clinic, Dubai.
What is dementia? How is it diagnosed? How do I care for someone with dementia? Who can I turn to for support? And most importantly, how can I improve the life of someone living with dementia?
Dementia is rarely spoken of, however, WHO statistics show that 55 million people worldwide have a type of dementia. Moreover, nearly 10 million people are diagnosed annually!
Projections estimate this number to reach 139 million in the next 20 to 30 years.
These fast-growing numbers, far from being small, incite us to mobilize our knowledge and attempt to provide the best support we can, to individuals, their families, and caregivers.
First, some definitions: Dementia, also referred to as senile dementia, is an umbrella term for many illnesses or diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease, that affect brain functioning, impair thinking, remembering, and decision-making.
These impairments often induce personality changes that can significantly alter a person’s ability to carry out daily living activities.
And even though the most common risk factor of developing dementia is old age, it is not part of normal aging.
Optimal support begins with proper diagnosis. Getting an assessment should be the first step to undertake when you or a loved one is experiencing memory loss or personality changes. Early detection is primordial in providing timely and effective care.
This may also be the opportunity to rule out other causes such as vitamin deficiencies or medication side effects that may be causing memory loss.
A trained geriatrician, neurologist, neuropsychologist, or psychologist will carry out a comprehensive evaluation including individual and family interviews (medical history, family history, gaining insight on a person’s ability), and neuropsychological evaluation that will evaluate a range of cognitive abilities such as person’s orientation, memory, linguistic abilities and executive functioning (i.e., organizational abilities, decision-making processes…).
After which, the diagnostician will determine the presence and type of dementia.
A proper assessment will become the benchmark for tailoring an individualized care-plan.
Early detection can improve quality of life and slow the progression of the disease!