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| Dementia: Facts and figures | Dementia: Facts and figures |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| "Dementia isn't when you can't find your car keys. We all do that. | |
| "It's when you're standing at the door with your keys in your hand and you don't know what they are there for." | "It's when you're standing at the door with your keys in your hand and you don't know what they are there for." |
| The idea that mental faculties can deteriorate with age has been recognised for centuries. | The idea that mental faculties can deteriorate with age has been recognised for centuries. |
| Some researchers even believe that Shakespeare's King Lear was a study of dementia. | Some researchers even believe that Shakespeare's King Lear was a study of dementia. |
| But experts say the condition is the health and social care challenge of the 21st Century, because the UK's ageing population means the numbers affected are set to soar. | But experts say the condition is the health and social care challenge of the 21st Century, because the UK's ageing population means the numbers affected are set to soar. |
| To address the problem, the government is publishing its long-awaited dementia strategy, first planned for autumn last year, setting out ways of improving care. | To address the problem, the government is publishing its long-awaited dementia strategy, first planned for autumn last year, setting out ways of improving care. |
| WHAT IS DEMENTIA? | WHAT IS DEMENTIA? |
| Dementia is an umbrella term which describes a serious deterioration in mental functions, such as memory, language, orientation and judgement. | Dementia is an umbrella term which describes a serious deterioration in mental functions, such as memory, language, orientation and judgement. |
| There are many types, but Alzheimer's disease, which accounts for two thirds of cases, is the most well-known. | There are many types, but Alzheimer's disease, which accounts for two thirds of cases, is the most well-known. |
| It is named after the German scientist Alois Alzheimer who identified the condition over a century ago. | It is named after the German scientist Alois Alzheimer who identified the condition over a century ago. |
| Alois Alzheimer identified the disease that bears his name 100 years ago. | Alois Alzheimer identified the disease that bears his name 100 years ago. |
| Alzheimer had studied a patient at the Frankfurt Asylum called Auguste Deter. He first saw her in 1901 and followed her case until her death in 1906. | Alzheimer had studied a patient at the Frankfurt Asylum called Auguste Deter. He first saw her in 1901 and followed her case until her death in 1906. |
| She displayed short-term memory loss and disorientation and, after her death, an examination of her brain showed she had the tell-tale protein deposits of amyloid plaques and tau tangles which characterise Alzheimer's disease. | She displayed short-term memory loss and disorientation and, after her death, an examination of her brain showed she had the tell-tale protein deposits of amyloid plaques and tau tangles which characterise Alzheimer's disease. |
| Less well known versions of the condition include vascular dementia - caused when the oxygen supply fails and brain cells die. | Less well known versions of the condition include vascular dementia - caused when the oxygen supply fails and brain cells die. |
| Lewy Body dementia occurs when small structures develop in nerve cells, causing the degeneration of brain tissue. | Lewy Body dementia occurs when small structures develop in nerve cells, causing the degeneration of brain tissue. |
| Fronto-temporal dementia affects personality and behaviour more than memory. | Fronto-temporal dementia affects personality and behaviour more than memory. |
| All forms of dementia are progressive: as the brain becomes increasingly damaged over time, so a person's symptoms will become worse. | All forms of dementia are progressive: as the brain becomes increasingly damaged over time, so a person's symptoms will become worse. |
| HOW IT IS DIAGNOSED | HOW IT IS DIAGNOSED |
| The only accurate way to know a person has Alzheimer's is to analyse their brain in a post mortem after their death. | The only accurate way to know a person has Alzheimer's is to analyse their brain in a post mortem after their death. |
| Trying to diagnose the condition when someone is alive can be difficult because so many of the signs are initially subtle, or shared with other illnesses. | Trying to diagnose the condition when someone is alive can be difficult because so many of the signs are initially subtle, or shared with other illnesses. |
| SYMPTOMS Memory problemsPoor judgementDifficulties with everyday tasksLanguage problemsChanges in mood, behaviour and personality | SYMPTOMS Memory problemsPoor judgementDifficulties with everyday tasksLanguage problemsChanges in mood, behaviour and personality |
| Signs of confusion, agitation or forgetfulness are what usually first prompt a visit to the GP. | Signs of confusion, agitation or forgetfulness are what usually first prompt a visit to the GP. |
| It can take weeks - or months if someone is in the early stages of the disease - to get a diagnosis. | It can take weeks - or months if someone is in the early stages of the disease - to get a diagnosis. |
| This is because the patient needs to be monitored and tested over time to check it is dementia rather than another condition, such as depression or a brain tumour. | This is because the patient needs to be monitored and tested over time to check it is dementia rather than another condition, such as depression or a brain tumour. |
Signs of Alzheimer's disease | Signs of Alzheimer's disease |
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| TREATMENT | TREATMENT |
| Dementia cannot be cured, although there are ways of alleviating symptoms, including psychological help, art therapy and music therapy. | Dementia cannot be cured, although there are ways of alleviating symptoms, including psychological help, art therapy and music therapy. |
| But most attention is paid to the role three drugs can play. | But most attention is paid to the role three drugs can play. |
| These drugs, called acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, are better known as Aricept, Exelon and Reminyl. | These drugs, called acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, are better known as Aricept, Exelon and Reminyl. |
| NUMBERS 700,000 people have dementia in the UK15,000 of those are under 65The total affected is estimated to reach 1m by 2021By 2051, it could reach 1.7mWomen account for two-thirds of casesDementia currently costs the economy "First aid is easy if you know what to do. per year; this could hit £50bn within 30 years The disease can affect a person anywhere from three to 20 years. | NUMBERS 700,000 people have dementia in the UK15,000 of those are under 65The total affected is estimated to reach 1m by 2021By 2051, it could reach 1.7mWomen account for two-thirds of casesDementia currently costs the economy "First aid is easy if you know what to do. per year; this could hit £50bn within 30 years The disease can affect a person anywhere from three to 20 years. |
| A controversial ruling by the National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) stated that these drugs should only be available when Alzheimer's has progressed to its moderate stages. | A controversial ruling by the National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) stated that these drugs should only be available when Alzheimer's has progressed to its moderate stages. |
| But campaigners say people in the early stages of the disease should also have access to the medications. | But campaigners say people in the early stages of the disease should also have access to the medications. |
| THE STRATEGY | THE STRATEGY |
| A draft of the strategy set out a number of measures including a public information campaign, better training for GPs and health professionals to help them diagnose people with dementia, and extending the existing network of memory clinics. | A draft of the strategy set out a number of measures including a public information campaign, better training for GPs and health professionals to help them diagnose people with dementia, and extending the existing network of memory clinics. |
| These would act as "hubs", where people could be referred if they were suspected of having dementia. | These would act as "hubs", where people could be referred if they were suspected of having dementia. |
| Campaigners welcome them. | Campaigners welcome them. |
| Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, said: "People with Alzheimer's have complex health and social care needs which could be catered for. | Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, said: "People with Alzheimer's have complex health and social care needs which could be catered for. |
| "The clinics would be somewhere for GPs to send someone, even if they are not sure of their condition." | "The clinics would be somewhere for GPs to send someone, even if they are not sure of their condition." |
| But while campaigners welcome many aspects of the strategy, they are concerned about whether they will be funded properly. | But while campaigners welcome many aspects of the strategy, they are concerned about whether they will be funded properly. |
| There are fears that the economic downturn will affect how much money the government can allocate to dementia care. | There are fears that the economic downturn will affect how much money the government can allocate to dementia care. |
| Scotland set out priorities for dementia care in a paper published in December, while Wales is planning to publish its own strategy. | Scotland set out priorities for dementia care in a paper published in December, while Wales is planning to publish its own strategy. |