Dementia

The term 'dementia' is used to describe the symptoms that occur when the brain is affected by specific diseases and conditions.

Dementia is a common condition. In England alone, there are currently 570,000 people living with dementia (source: NHS Choices).

Types of dementia:

There are over 100 different types of dementia. Listed below are some of the different types of dementia.

Alzheimer's disease: where small clumps of protein, known as plaques, begin to develop around brain cells. This disrupts the normal workings of the brain.
Vascular dementia: where problems with blood circulation result in parts of the brain not receiving enough blood and oxygen.
Dementia with Lewy bodies: where abnormal structures, known as Lewy bodies, develop inside the brain.
Frontotemporal dementia: where the frontal and temporal lobes (two parts of the brain) begin to shrink. Unlike other types of dementia, frontotemporal dementia usually develops in people who are under 65. It is much rarer than other types of dementia.

Signs / symptoms of dementia

Memory problems are common. Many of us notice that our memory becomes less reliable as we get older. Tiredness, stress, overwork, anxiety, depression, some physical illnesses and / or the side-effects of certain medications can all be factors too. And, of course, some of us have always been more absent minded. But sometimes forgetfulness can be an early sign of dementia.

Do any of these sound familiar?

Seek help without delay if your memory is not as good as it used to be, and especially if you:

struggle to remember recent events, although you can easily recall things that happened in the past;
find it hard to follow conversations or programmes on TV;
forget the names of friends or everyday objects;
cannot recall things you have heard, seen or read;
find it difficult to make decisions;
notice that you repeat yourself or lose the thread of what you are saying;
have problems thinking and reasoning;
feel anxious, depressed or angry about your forgetfulness; and/or
find that other people start to comment on your forgetfulness.

If you are worried that you memory - of that of someone you know - is getting noticeably worse, or if forgetfulness is beginning to have a knock-on effect on everyday life, it is worth sharing your worries and seeking advice from the doctor (GP).

Dementia adviser service

Please note this services is only ran in North Warwickshire. The dementia adviser service will give you the information you need to make the right decisions. They will also tell you about the services available in your area which can support you, and your family.

You can choose the way you have contact with your dementia advisor whether it's by phone, email or face to face.

Dementia advisers ensure that people affected by dementia have a single point of contact for questions or queries they may have after being diagnosed with dementia.

The service aims to support you to live well with your dementia, by guiding you to specific support and services.

The dementia adviser service is run in Warwickshire by the Alzheimer's Society.