Dementia Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can dementia be prevented?
Can I be included in dementia research?
Can I still drive now that I have been diagnosed with dementia?
Can I still go on holiday?
Can you catch dementia?
Do people with dementia get depressed?
Do younger people develop dementia?
How is dementia diagnosed?
How many people have dementia?
I have just been diagnosed. What happens now?
Is Alzheimer’s disease inherited?
Is dementia a mental illness?
Is dementia inherited?
Is dementia something older people get?
Is dementia terminal / life limiting?
Is there are cure for dementia?
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Can dementia be prevented?
Whilst there are no specific measures that one can take to remove the possibility of developing a dementia, there is increasing evidence to suggest that leading a healthy lifestyle can help reduce an individual’s risk and delay the onset of dementia. Follow these links to learn more about this:
Maintain your brain - USA awareness campaign
Healthy Brain - Alzheimer Society of Canada
Good For Your Brain - Campaign from Scotland
Factsheet on genetics and dementia - Alzheimer's Society
Am I at risk of developing dementia? - Alzheimer's Society
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Can I be included in dementia research?
You should discuss this with your GP and memory service. Some people do become involved in research but this is generally in the very early stages of dementia.
The Alzheimer’s society have some information on their research programmes. Follow this link to find out more:
http://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/
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Can I still drive now that I have been diagnosed with dementia?
Dementia will affect your ability to drive and at some point you will have to give up driving. However, some people are able to still drive for a period of time after diagnosis; particularly if diagnosed early.
Dementia is a condition that you need to tell the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) about. The law requires you to tell the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) about any condition that may affect your ability to drive safely. If you are involved in an accident and it is found that you having dementia was a contributing factor, you may be prosecuted, fined up to £1000 and your insurance may not be valid. See the back of your driving license where this is clearly stated!
The Driving Assessment Centre has lots of information on driving with medical conditions and on the driving skills assessment process.
Download and complete this medical questionnaire: http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@motor
/documents/digitalasset/dg_171291.pdf
and send it to:
Drivers Medical Group
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1DF
or fax it to: 0845 850 0095
or by email to: eftd@dvla.gsi.gov.uk
The DVLA may ask your GP and your hospital specialist about your fitness to drive. Your GP and hospital specialist have to give an honest opinion, based on the guidance issued to them and have a duty to report drivers who may be unfit to drive. Whilst GPs and hospital specialists never like recommending people give up their driving license, they have a duty of care to all road users and pedestrians and must consider this when giving an opinion on your ability to drive. This is not a reflection on you as a driver but the way in which dementia affects your ability to drive.
The guidance below is for car and motorcycle users only. Those drivers with VOC – LGV/PCV will have their license revoked immediately.
Guidance from the DVLA for Professionals:
It is extremely difficult to assess driving ability in those with dementia. Those who have poor short-term memory, disorientation, lack of insight and judgement are almost certainly not fit to drive. The variable presentations and rates of progression are acknowledged. Disorders of attention will also cause impairment. A decision regarding fitness to drive is usually based on medical reports. In early dementia when sufficient skills are retained and progression is slow, a licence may be issued subject to annual review. A formal driving assessment may be necessary.
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Can I still go on holiday?
Yes, usually. You should discuss this with your GP and memory service and if going abroad, make sure you have adequate insurance and your insurance company is aware of your dementia and is covering your for it.
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Can you catch dementia?
No you cannot catch dementia!
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Do people with dementia get depressed?
Yes people with dementia can get depressed and quite often their carers too. If there is a concern about this the person should make an appointment with their GP.
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Do younger people develop dementia?
Yes younger people do develop dementia. This is known as early onset dementia or young onset dementia and affects people under the age of 65 years of age. People can develop this from their 30s and 40s although this form of dementia only accounts for about 10% of all people who have dementia.
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How is dementia diagnosed?
Dementia is diagnosed following a clinical assessment. In other words from the results of questions and tests the memory services carry out. It is usual to have blood tests to rule out physical causes of memory problems and sometimes a brain scan, which can help with diagnosis. Some people also have an ECG (heart trace) as part of this process.
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How many people have dementia?
• 1 in 4 of people over the age of 85 have dementia
• 1 in 20 people over the age of 65 have dementia
• 40% of people aged 65 or over in acute hospitals could have an undiagnosed dementia
• 29% of carers of people with dementia in the West Midlands were found to have levels of depression
• In the next 13 years there will be a 38% increase in people with a likely dementia
• Young Onset Dementia is three times more prevalent in black and ethnic minority groups in the West Midlands
• 36% of people with Down Syndrome between the ages of 50-59 and 55% of people with Down’s Syndrome between the ages of 60-69, are likely to develop dementia
• People who have any other Learning Disability are four times more likely to develop dementia
• Two thirds of care home residents have dementia but not all are cared for in specialist dementia registered homes
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I have just been diagnosed. What happens now?
See our ‘Living with Dementia’ section and document.
http://www.walsall.nhs.uk/Services/Dementia.asp
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Is Alzheimer’s disease inherited?
Most people who develop Alzheimer’s disease do not have a family history. However, there are a small percentage of people who can develop Alzheimer’s as a result of a family member. These often affect younger people and it accounts for about 5% of people who get Alzheimer’s disease. Where there is a family history of stroke and vascular dementia, one might expect to see an increase chance of a family member going on to develop this form of dementia above the general population.
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Is dementia a mental illness?
Not technically no, although mental health services are usually the people who run the memory services. Dementia is a disease of the brain.
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Is dementia inherited?
Most people who develop Alzheimer’s disease which is the most common form of dementia do not have a family history. However, there are a small percentage of people who can develop Alzheimer’s as a result of a family member. These often affect younger people and it accounts for about 5% of people who get Alzheimer’s disease. Where there is a family history of stroke and vascular dementia, one might expect to see an increase chance of a family member going on to develop this form of dementia above the general population.
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Is dementia something older people get?
No. Not just older people, although being older puts you into the highest risk group for dementia. Dementia is not part of ageing.
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Is dementia terminal / life limiting?
Dementia is a terminal illness, so as a result of developing dementia, people eventually die. However, dementia it is not always recorded as the cause of death and some cases not mentioned at all or as a contributing factor. As time goes on, the person's ability to cope with infections and other physical problems will be impaired due to the progression of the disease and one may die with a heart attack or bronchopneumonia. Dementia is life limiting but this is over a number of years. Whilst everyone is different, is not unusual to live with dementia for more than ten years.
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Is there are cure for dementia?
No, there is no cure for dementia but research continues in to this area. However, there are medications which can slow the deterioration and help to manage symptoms.
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