14 Commonly Asked Questions About Dementia

Dementia is an umbrella term. There are several different causes of dementia. One cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease.

Dementia is not a normal part of ageing.

The risk of developing dementia rises with age. This means that people are more likely to get dementia at older ages, but, dementia is not a normal part of ageing. It is also possible for younger people to get dementia but this is less common.

Find out more about younger onset dementia here:
https://www.dementia.org.au/about-dementia/what-is-younger-onset-dementia
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimers/younger-early-onset

There are many different causes of dementia. The most common causes include Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies and frontotemporal dementia. It is also possible to have more than one type of dementia.

Find out more about the different types of dementia here:
https://www.dementia.org.au/information/about-dementia/types-of-dementia
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia/types-of-dementia

Dementia gets more common as we age. It is estimated that one in every ten adults aged 80 and over will have a form of dementia, this may rise to two in every ten in those aged 90 and over.

Find out more about the rates of dementia here:
https://www.alz.co.uk/research/statistics

Everybody experiences memory problems from time to time. If you are concerned about your memory please contact a healthcare professional such as a general practitioner who can help make an appropriate assessment.

Find out more information about dementia diagnosis here:
https://www.dementia.org.au/information/diagnosing-dementia
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/diagnosis

People with dementia can have problems with several different thought processes. It is common for memory to be affected at an early stage but this does not happen in everyone. For example, planning is another ability that can commonly be affected.

Find out more about the early signs of dementia here:
https://www.dementia.org.au/information/about-dementia/how-can-i-find-out-more/warning-signs-of-dementia
https://www.alz.co.uk/info/early-symptoms

Having parents with dementia does not automatically mean that you will develop dementia. Dementia is the result of many combined factors including lifestyle. Living a healthy lifestyle is the best way to reduce your chances of developing dementia.

Find out more about the genetics of dementia here:
https://www.dementia.org.au/information/genetics-of-dementia
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimers/causes-and-risk-factors/genetics
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/risk-factors-and-prevention/genetics-of-dementia

Having plaques and tangles in your brain does not automatically mean that you have dementia or will develop dementia. Some people have plaques and tangles and never develop dementia, however, it is likely that having plaques and tangles increases your risk of dementia.

Find out more about the neurobiology of dementia here:
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/how-dementia-progresses/symptoms-brain
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimers/brain_tour

There has been some evidence suggesting people who drink small amounts may be at lower risk of developing dementia. But, there are many things that influence people choosing to drink alcohol and this makes the evidence hard to interpret. Certainly drinking to excess increases the risk of developing dementia and there is no evidence that starting to drink is beneficial.

Find out more about the relationship between alcohol and dementia here:
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/risk-factors-and-prevention/alcohol

It is not true that if you do not get dementia by 80, you won’t get dementia. The risk of developing dementia rises with age. This means that the older we are the more at risk we are.

Find out more about other dementia risk factors here:
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/risk-factors-and-prevention
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimers/causes-and-risk-factors

Dementia is a worldwide issue. The risk of developing dementia rises with age. As we are living longer we have more older adults in the world and therefore more people with dementia. This applies to high income countries and to low and middle income countries.

Find out more about the global prevalence of dementia here:
https://www.alz.co.uk/research/world-report-2015

At the moment there is no cure for dementia. The best way to minimise your risk of getting dementia is to live a healthy lifestyle.

Find out more about dementia risk reduction here:
https://coghealth.net.au/community-knowledge-hub/

There are things that we can do to reduce our risk. The best way to do this is to live a healthy lifestyle. This includes eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, staying physically active, not smoking and following the recommended guidelines if drinking alcohol. Staying mentally and socially active may also help. If you have been prescribed drugs to lower your blood pressure or cholesterol or to treat diabetes these should be taken in accordance with your doctor’s instructions. Living healthily is likely to be beneficial throughout life, however it is never too late to start.

Check out our infographics on how to reduce your dementia risk:
https://coghealth.net.au/diet-and-brain-health/
https://coghealth.net.au/physical-activity-and-brain-health/