What is dementia?
Dementia is a condition characterised by progressive or persistent loss of intellectual functioning, especially with impairment of memory and abstract thinking, and often with personality change, resulting from organic disease of the brain.
The steadily creeping rise and impact of dementia.
Globally the prevalence of dementia is expected to double every 20 years. By 2050 that means 100 million people will be affected. Here in Australia, according to the Australian Government of Health and Aged Care 2023 figures; 1 in 12 people aged 65 and over are living with dementia. 2 in 5 people aged 90 and over are living with dementia.
Family and friends of sufferers will also be dramatically imposed upon. It is impossible to estimate just how many people that might be. Suffice to say it will be a lot.
To date, there are no known cures. There is a temporary treatment that may assist certain suffers it is called Aricept. Aricept may help slow the progression of dementia symptoms in some people. Aricept doesn’t work the same for everyone with Alzheimer’s disease.
Research has therefore concentrated on evaluating the causes of dementia based on the assumption that it is easier to prevent the disease than it is to reverse.
Let’s concentrate on what you can do.
According to supportstvincents.com.au “Although there are not yet curative treatments available for dementia, increasing evidence points to the significant potential benefits of targeted strategies for its prevention. Indeed, recent studies suggest that up to 40% of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed.”
This is good news.
Again, according to supportstvincents.com.au “The 12 modifiable risk factors, as developed by the World Health Organisation as part of their guidelines on risk reduction of cognitive decline and dementia are:
- Be physically active
- Stop smoking
- Eat a balanced diet, esp. if possible a Mediterranean-like diet
- Drink alcohol in moderation
- Cognitive training (chess, languages, crossword puzzles)
- Be socially active
- Look after your weight
- Manage any hypertension
- Manage any diabetes
- Manage any cholesterol
- Manage Mental Health incl. depression
- Look after your hearing and manage hearing loss
If you do some or all of these things you can reduce your chances of developing dementia.
Point 12, if ignored, has the potential to make points 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10 and 11 more difficult to manage.
Research
dementia.org.au states “Research has shown that hearing difficulties may reduce quality of life through social isolation, (6) feelings of loneliness and depression, (2, 4 & 11) and a loss of independence.” (1, 5, 6, 9 & 10)
“Hearing loss may place an additional load on the mental resources of a vulnerable brain as the person who has difficulty hearing works harder to decode and process sounds. The additional load may mean there are fewer resources for memory, and understanding speech.” (Points 5, 6 & 11)
So, looking after your hearing is a big deal? It most certainly is.
“Research suggests that people with mild symptoms of hearing loss may be twice as likely to develop dementia as those with healthy hearing. People with severe hearing loss may be five times more likely to develop dementia.” dementia.org.au
What causes hearing loss?
It will come as no surprise to you that Pete Townsend of “The WHO” (The band not the organisation.) is a sufferer. This is what he had to say. “I have severe hearing damage. It’s manifested itself as tinnitus, ringing in my ears at frequencies that I play guitar. It hurts, it’s painful and it’s frustrating.”
A pity Pete didn’t listen to this advice as Loud Noise is the number one cause of hearing loss.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC cdc.gov) “Avoid loud, noisy activities and places.”
The other biggie is old age. Age related hearing loss typically occurs in your sixties and seventies. Statistically we all start to lose our hearing when we are in our forties. One adult in five and more than half of all people over the age of 80 suffer from hearing loss.
Other causes can include a damaged ear drum, outer or middle ear infections and malfunctions, impacted ear wax, certain chemicals, and medications. So, it’s important to take good care of your ears. If you think you might have deteriorating hearing it could be a good idea to seek professional help.
Symptoms of deteriorating hearing.
- Speech and other sounds seem muffled
- Trouble hearing high-pitched sounds
- Difficulty understanding conversations in a noisy places
- It’s hard to understand voices over the phone
- Trouble distinguishing speech consonants (Is it ‘p’ or ’t’)
- Asking others to speak more slowly and clearly
- Asking someone to speak more loudly or repeat what they said
- Turning up the volume of your television or radio
- Ringing in the ears
- Hypersensitivity to certain sounds
If you exercise your brain it will help the rest of you stay healthy.
Your brain is a very complex piece of hardware. Like your body, if you don’t exercise it on a regular basis it’s operational speed and power are more than likely going to decline.
People of all ages but particularly the over fifties can benefit from incorporating a few brain ‘exercises’ into their daily routine. Nothing to complicated or time consuming but designed to improve your memory, attention span, brain speed, people skills, intelligence, and navigation.
If your brain is working well, it follows that the rest of you will too. It will make it easier for you to adopt the 12 modifiable risk factors that can prevent or delay the onset of dementia by 40%.
