What is Dementia and ADRD?
According to the WHO's definition, dementia is a syndrome in which there is deterioration in memory, thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday activities. Although dementia mainly affects older people, it is not a normal part of ageing. It is caused by damage to brain cells - by i.e. Alzheimer’s disease, stroke or a head injury. Worldwide, around 50 million people have dementia, and there are nearly 10 million new cases every year, or one new case every 3 seconds. The anticipated growth of the diagnosis is set to triple by 2050.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and may contribute to 60–70% of cases. Dementia is one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide. It has a physical, psychological, social, and economic impact, not only for the caretaker, but also on their carer’s, families and society at large. Dementia affects each person in a different way, depending upon the impact of the disease and the person’s personality before becoming ill.