Dementia affects several millions of people across the world. There are various types of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type. This disease that is yet to have a cure affects several millions of families in several different ways.
Dementia is a global crisis, perhaps we can call it the dementia pandemic! Dementia is everyone's problem and as a result, we must take the responsibility to look after ourselves. One of the easiest ways to support people living with dementia and their caregivers is to be aware of this disease and by so doing we probably can become a little bit more compassionate and dementia-friendly.
Most people living with dementia receive care from their immediate family members or friends and neighbours. This makes informal caregivers become isolated. They become what we call the invisible patients. Most people who provide informal dementia care are female caregivers mainly spouses, female adult children, family members, friends, and neighbours.
Dementia caregivers suffer equally as they are mostly available to provide the required care for their family members who are living with dementia. Informal caregivers suffer from several conditions such as physical and psychological challenges,
loss of job/livelihoods = financial problems, and loss of social life such as their hobbies. Among other challenges, informal caregivers suffer from stress, anxiety, and depression.
How dementia-friendly are you and how dementia-friendly are your localities?
Towards a Dementia-Friendly India (nih.gov)
Dementiain India2020.pdf (rajagiri.edu)
Interesting and useful question. I will follow it. Thank you so much for sharing. Best wishes
My dear friend.. Dementia is an annoying and dangerous disease that affects the person and his life completely. The individual becomes unable to do anything.. In our country, cases of dementia are increasing among the elderly, and sometimes even those of young ages.. Greetings and my respect.
Dear Dr. @Muhammad Aledeh
Demintia and Alzheimer’s disease, in modern times, aren't confined to old people as conventionally thought. Now, younger generations suffer from the same crisis. Addiction to mobile phones cause catastrophes including dementia!
Muhammad Aledeh
Dear Professor,
Thank you for the interesting topic of discussion.
In today's world, dementia is one of the most common diseases. Ahmed T. Hussein has pointed out that it is found in younger people also. I got worried after reading that. As a child and as a young man, I had a memory that was the envy of many. Now, I am 41 years old and I forget things easily. To be honest, I got worried because of this reason. I pursued a little bit of research on this topic. With utter astonishment, I came to know that these days scientists and doctors are linking dementia with poor diets, faulty life style, stress etc. That's why, its becoming common even among younger people.
I live in a country which is a developing one. That's why, most people here suffer from lack of knowledge of many serious matters like dementia. It is most of the time not considered as a disease. It is considered as a fault. So, In India, you won't find too many people worried about this problem. Not too many people, in this country would like to go to a specialist with this problem.
Best regards,
Anamitra.
Abbiategrasso is the first Italian Dementia Friendly City in Italy: see web site of Golgi Cenci Foundation, and the web site of Italian Alzheimer Federation
Clinical psychologist Dasha Kiper’s “Travelers to Unimaginable Lands” explores the complex, often fraught, relationship between patients and the “invisible victims” of dementia disorders — those tasked with taking care of them. These caregivers, Kiper writes, traverse warped realities of time and memory...
https://undark.org/2023/04/07/book-review-travelers-to-unimaginable-lands/
Dear Professor Ljubomir Jacić Thank you so much for sharing Dasha Kiper’s “Travelers to Unimaginable Lands”. Very insightful.
I think people's attitude to dementia has improved as time has progressed. I wonder if it is because it is understood / talked about more.
Dementia has an impact not just on those who suffer from it, but also on their caregivers, particularly within the family who provide unpaid, informal care. Additionally, societal changes make it more difficult for older people to rely on younger family members.
Changing family structures with low marriage rates and families having fewer children who can provide care in their old age are a risk for the elderly.
Research on ageing and informal care by Yoko Ibuka, professor of economics and an expert on health economics at Keio University, has focused on the impact on carers of caring for people. She found that mental health issues are a heavy burden on females compared to their male counterparts...
https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=2023070614262150&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=GLNL0747
Dear doctor
"People with dementia can experience the physical environment differently as their condition develops. They may find the space challenging to understand, leading to an increase in expressions of anxiety and agitation. An environment might be considered ‘dementia-friendly’ if it supports people with dementia to feel a sense of belonging, safety, independence and being connected to others. It should also be designed to empower people to participate in everyday life. Numerous researchers have tested how changes to the size, layout and interior features of the home may affect the person with dementia. This includes modifying levels of lighting, heating, and noise. There is also growing interest in more dementia-friendly housing designs. These include special care units within a facility, small-scale, group living homes, and dementia villages.
An environment might be considered ‘dementia friendly’ if it supports people with dementia to feel a sense of belonging, safety, independence and being connected to others.
● Care environments catering for a smaller number of people appear to improve social interaction, communication, and physical activity but show no impact on responsive behaviours such as aggression or agitation.
● Homes with a home-like character and personalised, private spaces can increase the quality of life of people with dementia, their social interactions, and their ability to perform daily tasks independently. These homes may also increase food consumption.
● People with dementia often need environmental cues to help them navigate the home space independently. A wide variety of easy-to-adopt strategies have been tested for their effectiveness.
● Residential aged care facilities are often lit poorly and can have levels of noise far exceeding safe and comfortable levels. Bringing in natural light and ensuring rooms are well lit may lift the mood of the person with dementia and support them to perform daily tasks. Reducing noise can also reduce responsive behaviours, while background music and care worker singing can create calm morning routines."
I must express my heartfelt thanks to you all who have been contributing to this discussion so far. Thank you so much, Ljubomir Jacić Mary C R Wilson Sundus F Hantoosh Mauro Colombo Anamitra Roy
Best regards
Muhammad
Abnormal levels of certain proteins — most of which have functions unrelated to the brain — could be an early hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. In a decades-long study of more than 10,000 people, unbalanced levels of 32 proteins during middle age were strongly associated with an elevated chance of developing dementia in later life...
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02374-2
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