What is dementia?

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Dementia is not a normal part of aging

Almost 40% of people over the age of 65 experience some form of memory loss. When there is no underlying medical condition causing this memory loss, it is known as age-associated memory impairment.

Age-associated memory impairment is part of the natural process of aging. For most people, memory generally remains strong as they get older, and doesn't decline rapidly or substantively.

However, brain diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are different.

Know the differences between normal aging and dementia.

Dementia doesn't just affect older people

The idea that dementia is an "old person's disease" is not just stigmatizing, it's also a myth.

While most people living with dementia are over the age of 65, a small number of people in their 40s and 50s can and do develop dementia. This is known as young onset dementia.

Get more answers to common myths about dementia.

Dementia causes more than memory loss

Symptoms of dementia include:

Memory loss, both short-term and long-term,
Difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language that are severe enough to reduce a person's ability to perform everyday activities, and
Changes in mood or behaviour.

Understand the symptoms of dementia.

Dementia is usually progressive

As more brain cells become damaged and eventually die, the symptoms of most dementia types will gradually get worse. That's why it's important to be diagnosed as early as possible.

Learn more about the different stages of Alzheimer's disease, which is progressive and is the most common type of dementia.

Dementia does not always imply Alzheimer's disease

While Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, there are other types, such as:

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease,
Dementia with Lewy bodies,
Frontotemporal dementia,
Mixed dementia, and
Vascular dementia, the second most common type.

These conditions can have similar and overlapping symptoms.

Know the difference between Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

People living with dementia are still people

Because of the effects of dementia, a person’s ability to communicate may become impaired, making it difficult to talk with them. But this doesn't meant they should be ignored.

It's important to try to reach the person in whichever way you can – and there are many ways to do so. While the effects may not be immediately obvious, your efforts can improve their quality of life and help the person living with dementia feel more comfortable and secure.

Know that all persons with dementia have the right to be treated with respect.

Learn more about stigma against dementia.

Dementia is becoming more common in Canada – and more expensive

With over half a million Canadians living with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia, chances are you know someone living with dementia. As our population ages, this number will nearly double by 2030.

Total health-care system costs and the out of pocket costs of caring for people living with dementia are at least $10.4 billion a year in Canada. Unless we do something now, dementia will become an even more serious impact on our healthcare system.

Get the full list of dementia numbers in Canada.

What causes most dementias is unknown...for now

While we know that neurodegenerative diseases, vascular diseases, head injuries and other risk factors can increase the chance of dementia, we still don't know what exactly causes most dementias.

However, researchers around the world are working hard to unravel the mysteries of this condition, and find not just causes, but better treatments and a cure as well.

Find out what the current research is telling us about dementia.

Didn't find what you were looking for? Get more answers to common questions about dementia. Or contact us with your questions at info@alzheimer.ca.

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