Module 2: What is Dementia?
In this section we look at:
- The difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s
- Common symptoms of dementia
- Where to look for further information on dementia
If you have been accepted to be a Help Point, then the chances are your service is already being used by people with dementia and / or their family members. Most people are familiar with some of the more common symptoms of dementia, such a memory loss. But is there more to it? Have a look at our two videos below to find out more.
First up we have Professor Craig Ritchie from Prevent Dementia, answering some fundamental questions about what dementia is and what causes it.
Next we have Playlist for Life Deputy Chair discussing the more common symptoms of dementia.
There is loads more information out there about what dementia is. Check out our useful links below:
Useful links
- Various resources on dementia, by Alzheimer Scotland For further reading on a range of dementia related topics these online and downloadable factsheets are a great place to start.
- Alzheimer’s Society Brain videos – These 4 short videos provide an excellent insight into what is happening in the brain of someone with dementia
- Understanding Dementia MOOC – This is a free 7 week online course run by the Univeristy of Tasmania. It covers 3 modules: 1) The brain, 2) The diseases, 3) The person
Question
Were you aware of the many possible symptoms of dementia? What did you think the symptoms were before watching our videos above?
Many people think that having dementia simply means memory loss, but there are many more potential symptoms, including these as listed on the Alzheimer’s Society website:
- concentrating, planning or organising – for example, difficulties making decisions, solving problems or carrying out a sequence of tasks (such as cooking a meal)
- language – for example, difficulties following a conversation or finding the right word for something
- visuospatial skills – for example, problems judging distances (such as on stairs) and seeing objects in three dimensions
- orientation – for example, losing track of the day or date, or becoming confused about where they are
Remember, everyone will be different so individuals won’t necessarily display all the symptoms.
