Dementia is a syndrome, a group of related symptoms, linked to an ongoing decline in brain functioning. The NHS says it is not only about memory loss: it can also affect how a person speaks, thinks, feels and behaves, and it is not a natural part of ageing. There are many different causes and types. Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia make up the majority of cases. The NHS says more than 944,000 people in the UK have dementia. The Lift College Dementia Awareness Training course covers what care and frontline staff need to know.
Symptoms
The NHS lists problems with:
- memory loss
- thinking speed, and mental sharpness and quickness
- language, such as using words incorrectly or trouble speaking
- understanding and judgement
- mood and movement
- doing daily activities
People with dementia may lose interest in usual activities, find social situations hard, and have problems managing their behaviour or emotions. Some see or hear things that other people do not. Symptoms usually get worse over time.
Is dementia a disease?
Not a single one. The NHS describes dementia as a syndrome with many different causes. Many of the diseases that cause it are linked to an abnormal build-up of proteins in the brain, which makes nerve cells work less well and eventually die.
The main types
- Alzheimer's disease, the most common type
- vascular dementia, caused by reduced blood flow to the brain
- dementia with Lewy bodies, closely related to Parkinson's disease
- frontotemporal dementia, an important cause in younger people
- mixed dementia, most often Alzheimer's disease with vascular dementia
Our guide to the types of dementia explains each one.
How common it is
The NHS says more than 944,000 people in the UK have dementia, and 1 in 11 people over 65. It estimates the number will be more than 1 million by 2030, because people are living longer.
Why diagnosis matters
There is no cure at the moment, but the NHS says an early diagnosis means its progress can be slowed in some cases, and helps people get the right treatment and support and plan for the future. With treatment and support, many people live active, fulfilled lives with dementia. If you are worried about your own memory or someone else's, the NHS says to see a GP, and to encourage the other person to make an appointment, perhaps going with them.
Training
Lift College Dementia Awareness Training is 1.5 hours in 5 modules, for care workers, healthcare, housing and customer facing roles, with a CPD Standards Office accredited certificate the same day you pass. For a regulated qualification, see the Level 2 Certificate in Dementia Care.