Understanding dementia
What is dementia and how can we best help people living with it?
Dementia prevention update January 2024
Here’s a roundup of the latest research and ideas around how to prevent, or at least delay, the onset of dementia. Biological age rather than actual age could be an indicator of risk of dementia and stroke. Biological markers include blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol levels, inflammation markets, waist circumference and lung capacity. The hope […]
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Living independently for longer with clock and task alerts
Living at home independently for as long as possible is vitally important to quality of life for most older people. Deteriorating health, including memory problems, can make staying in their own home increasingly difficult though, and it can seem like going into care is the inevitable result. This move can be delayed though, with the […]
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What can a caregiver expect when caring for someone with dementia?
Caring for someone living with dementia can be a challenging task. The more we know of what we may face, the more prepared we can be with our responses. Here are some of the situations caregivers may find themselves experiencing, and suggestions for navigating the journey. It can be hard, and we’re not all heroes, […]
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Taking on dementia risks through diet and lifestyle
Contrary to the beliefs of many, Alzheimer’s is not an inevitable consequence of ageing – and Alzheimer’s is not in the genes. Fewer than one in every hundred Alzheimer’s diagnoses are attributed to genes.[1] It is largely a preventable disease, and we know quite a lot about what people need to do to help prevent […]
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Preventing or delaying dementia – what’s new?
Can we prevent dementia? Can we slow it down? Here are the latest reports and thinking about the progress being made in slowing down the onset of dementia. A 10-year study has come up with lifestyle advice for dementia prevention – and there are no surprises in there: a healthy diet; regular exercise; active social […]
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What does the breakthrough dementia drug mean for our families?
There have been many headlines this week about a new drug that can address the challenges of dementia, after years of failed research. But what is its significance, and what can it do for us and our loved ones who are already living with dementia? First, we are talking here specifically about Alzheimer’s Disease, which […]
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Choosing the right gift for someone with dementia
Knowing what to buy for an older relative can be difficult. And choosing for someone with dementia can seem particularly hard. The people at Relish, who specialise in presents for those living with dementia, have put together some tips to help you feel confident in your choices. Match the gift to ability Cognitive ability diminishes […]
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Cutting your dementia risk – latest thinking
There’s sadly no cure for dementia yet. But are there ways to minimise the risk of developing the disease? It seems that the problem could be getting worse. Research into the effects of Covid-19 is necessarily still at an early stage, but already Covid has been linked to longer-term elevated risk of dementia. The good […]
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How heat affects sundowning in dementia
Temperatures in the UK have reached record-breaking highs this summer. The heatwave poses a risk to everyone’s health, especially those living with dementia, as they are at greater risk of dehydration, tiredness and behavioural changes – including ‘sundowning’. What is sundowning? ‘Sundowning is a state of confusion many of those living with dementia experience in […]
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How caregivers can ensure a safe environment for those with memory loss
Watching someone you love grapple with memory loss can be both terrifying and heartbreaking. Sometimes it can feel as if the person you knew is slipping away, and you may well find yourself assuming roles and responsibilities you never anticipated. This often includes stepping up and stepping in to ensure the safety of your loved […]
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