Dementia is an umbrella term for a range of progressive disorders affecting the brain.”
Each type of dementia stops a person’s brain cells working properly in specific areas, affecting their ability to remember, think and speak.
Doctors typically use the word ‘‘dementia’’ to describe common symptoms – such as memory loss, confusion, and problems with speech and understanding – that get worse over time.
Dementia can affect a person at any age but it’s more common in people over the age of 65.
There are many different types, subtypes and causes of dementia. The most common are Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia and mixed dementia.
The above is taken from Dementia UK which includes Scotland in its statistics, but Scotland has its own source of information that applies specifically to NHS Scotland and Scottish Government and local authorities through Alzheimer Scotland and Age Scotland – About Dementia
Dementia is not an inevitable part of aging. It is an umbrella term for a range of progressive disorders affecting the brain, which affects some people – in the over 85s it is about one in three.
The challenges it brings can be different for everyone because it is an illness of the brain that causes the brain to deteriorate. Each person’s dementia is unique, according to which parts of their brain is affected, although there are many common general traits. There are more than 100 different types.
By 2025 in Scotland currently more than 90,000 people live with dementia, about 3000 of those are under 65. The number is increasing each year. By 2050 it is estimated that more than 120,000 people in Scotland will be living with dementia. The most common is Alzheimer disease. Others are Vascular dementia, Dementia with Lewy Bodies, and Fronto-temporal dementia .
At this time, 2025, there is no cure, but there is much research happening into the causes and treatments available to slow down the brain deterioration. We can all contribute to this valuable research (see our Resources page).
Scottish Government, Scottish Borders Council and NHS Borders all have published forward plans to deal with the ever-increasing health and welfare issues now faced by so many of us.