Dementia Quiz

Dementia is a normal consequence of ageing

Myth Fact

It's a myth

Dementia is not a part of the ageing process. Age is an important risk factor for dementia but it is not the only one. About 20% of people over the age of 80 have dementia, which means that 80% do not.

If you get dementia, nothing can be done about it

Myth Fact

It's a myth

Although there is no cure for most causes of dementia, there is a great deal of help available. Support and information for people with dementia and their carers is available from Alzheimer associations. There are now drug treatments available that can help people with mild to moderate dementia.

Alzheimer's disease is a common cause of dementia

Myth Fact

It's a fact

Alzheimer's disease accounts for 50 - 60% of all cases of dementia and is caused by abnormal brain tissue changes. There are over a hundred other causes of dementia including vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies and fronto-temporal dementia.

Memory problems are just part of getting old

Myth Fact

It's a myth

Poor memory is not normal at any age and should be investigated. Memory and mental speed decline slightly with age - none of us is quite as sharp as we were in our twenties - but this does not usually interfere with every day life. In fact, wisdom increases with age, compensating effectively for the slight changes in speed and flexibility of mind.

Most people with dementia live in the developing world

Myth Fact

It's a fact

Currently there are an estimated 18 million people in the world with dementia. Of these, 12 million (66%) live in developing countries. By the year 2025, the number of people with dementia will have nearly doubled and it is estimated that just over 24 million (71%) of these will live in developing countries. Much of this increase will be in rapidly developing and heavily populated regions such as China, India and Latin America.

Alzheimer's disease usually runs in families

Myth Fact

It's a myth

Alzheimer's disease does sometimes run in families, but this is not common. Some rare cases of the disease, which tend to occur in younger people than usual, are known to be inherited and are passed on by a single gene from one generation to the next. In these very rare cases, the probability that close family members (brothers, sisters and children) will develop Alzheimer's disease is one in two.

Most cases of Alzheimer's disease are not of the type that is passed on by a single gene. If a family member has the non-genetic form of the disease, the risk to close relatives is around three times higher than the risk for a person of similar age who does not have a family history of the disease. It is thought that in these cases a person's genes may contribute to the development of the disease, but do not cause it directly.