Who is vulnerable?
According to Mayo Clinic, risk of dementia may be raised under the following conditions:
- Advanced age
- Poor diet and lack of exercise
- Heavy alcohol use
- Cardiovascular risk factors
- Depression
- Sleep apnoea
- Vitamin and nutritional deficiencies
Of the estimated 50 million people worldwide with dementia, between 60% and 70% are estimated to have Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive neurologic disorder that causes the brain to shrink (atrophy) and brain cells to die.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia – a continuous decline in thinking, behavioural and social skills that affects a person’s ability to function independently.
For more information on dementia and Alzheimer’s, we suggest consulting your doctor or reading about the conditions from reliable sources such as the World Health Organisation, the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alzorg.com) or www.mayoclinic.com .
The information on this site is taken from these sources. The UPPEN team are not medical practitioners and knowledge of dementia and Alzheimer’s among team members is first hand, personal dealing with caring for sufferers.
It is vital that you seek proper medical diagnoses and advice when dealing with any conditions, including forgetfulness, dementia, Alzheimer’s and any other issue you may notice in your loved one that is of concern to you.
