What is it?
Dementia is a general term that covers a wide range of specific medical conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease. Disorders grouped under the general term “dementia” are caused by abnormal brain changes. These changes trigger a decline in thinking skills, also known as cognitive abilities, severe enough to impair daily life and independent function. They also affect behavior, feelings and relationships.
While it's normal to have occasional memory problems, as you age, such as forgetting the name of a person you've recently met, Alzheimer's is more than occasional memory loss. It causes brain cells to malfunction and ultimately die. When this happens, an individual may forget the name of a longtime friend or what roads to take to return to a home they've lived in for decades.
How does it effect POC?
African-American and Hispanic individuals are at a significantly higher risk of developing Alzheimer's and other forms of Dementia. Despite the rates being higher, they are both less likely to be diagnosed. Additionally, Dementia is underreported in African-American communities despite African-Americans being statistically more likely to develop certain forms such as vascular dementia.
Both groups also tend to be diagnosed at a later stage of Alzheimer’s disease — limiting the effectiveness of treatments that depend upon early intervention.
The cumulative risk of dementia among first degree relatives of African-Americans who have Alzheimer’s disease is 43.7%.
Symptoms
Memory problems are usually the most obvious symptom in people with dementia. Forgetfulness is common. As a rule, the most recent events are the first forgotten. For example, a person with early stages of dementia might go to the shops and then cannot remember what they wanted. It is also common to misplace objects.
Other symptoms include:
Cognitive: mental decline, confusion in the evening hours, disorientation, inability to speak or understand language, making things up, mental confusion, or inability to recognize common things
Behavioral: irritability, personality changes, restlessness, lack of restraint, or wandering and getting lost
Mood: anxiety, loneliness, mood swings, or nervousness
Psychological: depression, hallucination, or paranoia
Muscular: inability to combine muscle movements or unsteady walking
Also common: memory loss, falling, jumbled speech, or sleep disorder
Behavioral: irritability, personality changes, restlessness, lack of restraint, or wandering and getting lost
Mood: anxiety, loneliness, mood swings, or nervousness
Psychological: depression, hallucination, or paranoia
Muscular: inability to combine muscle movements or unsteady walking
Also common: memory loss, falling, jumbled speech, or sleep disorder
Early signs
Alzheimer's can strike people in their 30s, 40s and even 50s. This is called early-onset Alzheimer's (also referred to as younger-onset). It is estimated that there are more than 5 million people living with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States. This includes the over 5 million people age 65 and older and 200,000 people younger than age 65 with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer's can strike people in their 30s, 40s and even 50s. This is called early-onset Alzheimer's (also referred to as younger-onset). It is estimated that there are more than 5 million people living with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States. This includes the over 5 million people age 65 and older and 200,000 people younger than age 65 with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Although the early signs vary, common early symptoms of dementia include:
-Memory problems, particularly remembering recent events.
-Increasing confusion.
-Reduced concentration.
-Personality or behavior changes.
-Apathy and withdrawal or depression.
-Loss of ability to do everyday tasks.
-Memory problems, particularly remembering recent events.
-Increasing confusion.
-Reduced concentration.
-Personality or behavior changes.
-Apathy and withdrawal or depression.
-Loss of ability to do everyday tasks.
Organizations
For more information on Dementia, what you can do to help those who have it, or what causes you can donate to visit:
The Alzheimer's association is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to this cause. The organization has many local chapters in different communities and serves as an excellent resource to support both people with Alzheimer's and dementia as well as their caregivers. They provide education, research funding, advocacy, local support, and resources for families and professionals.
CAF has contributed more than $50 million to research. They work to raise money by seeking partnerships, holding fundraising events like golf tournaments and a ride for the cure, and sourcing donations from others interested in funding research.
AFA seeks to provide resources to dementia caregivers, including family education, free memory screening services, dementia care training for professionals, and support groups nationwide