What is Dementia?

Written By Peter Lipski

  • Dementia is a progressive neurodegenerative disease of the brain.

  • It is incurable. 

  • It is not a part of normal ageing.

  • Up to 10% of people over 70 years of age will develop dementia and up to 25% of people over the age of 80 years will develop Alzheimer’s dementia.

  • So this means that about 75% of those people over 80 years of age will NOT get dementia!

  • Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. 

  • Alzheimer’s dementia affects memory, thinking, behaviour and ability to manage your daily life activities.

  • The typical features of Alzheimer’s disease include a progressive short-term memory decline over several years.  (If there is sudden onset of confusion, this is not dementia but delirium which is potentially a medical emergency and needs to be sorted out straight away.)

For more information read Dr Peter Lipski’s book “Your Elderly Parents Failing Health. Is It Ageing Or A Treatable Condition”.

Peter Lipski
Next

Definition of Dementia