Quotient Sciences survey

Answer: Dementia is not a disease in itself, but a word used to describe a group of symptoms, including memory loss, confusion and mood changes, which occur when brain cells stop working properly. These symptoms are caused by diseases, most commonly Alzheimer’s, which attack the brain and cause the gradual death of nerve cells.

Answer: Memory loss is the most well-recognised symptom of dementia, but it is far from the only symptom people may experience. In the early stages of dementia people may have a range of symptoms including difficulty with language, problems with spatial awareness, and changes in personality. As the underlying disease progresses, these symptoms get worse over time, and by the latter stages of dementia people may be unable to walk, talk or even swallow.

Answer: Age is the biggest risk factor for dementia, but genetic and lifestyle factors can also play a role. While we can’t alter our age or our genes, we can look after our brain health and reduce our risk of dementia by leading a healthy lifestyle. This includes doing regular exercise, not smoking and eating a healthy, balanced diet. It’s also important to keep blood pressure and cholesterol levels in check. Research suggests that keeping healthy in mid-life is important, as well as in older age. There is some evidence to suggest that keeping socially and mentally active may also help lower the risk of dementia.

Answer: Dementia is one of the leading causes of death in the UK. Diseases like Alzheimer’s – the most common cause of dementia – result in the loss of brain cells, which in turn affects the brain’s ability to function properly. People’s early symptoms may be more likely to include problems such as memory loss and confusion, but as brain cell death becomes more widespread, their physical functions such as walking and even swallowing can be affected. In the later stages, people start to lose crucial functions they need for survival, while also becoming more prone to infections such as pneumonia.

Answer: As dementia is so common, many of us will have a relative living with the condition – but this does not mean we will develop it too. Dementia is caused by diseases in the brain and in most cases our likelihood of developing dementia will depend on our age, lifestyle and the environment we live in, as well as the genes we have.
Researchers have identified over 20 genes that can alter a person’s risk of diseases like Alzheimer’s, but many only have a very small effect on risk. While having one of these risk genes may increase the likelihood of getting the disease, it doesn’t mean a person will definitely develop it because there are many factors at play.
Less than 1% of Alzheimer’s cases and around 10-20% of cases of frontotemporal dementia are directly inherited or ‘familial’, and caused by a faulty gene than can pass down in families.

Answer: While there are some drugs available for Alzheimer’s disease, they only help with the symptoms of the disease, such a stabilising memory loss for a time. There is also some evidence that these drugs help with the symptoms of dementia with Lewy bodies. Unfortunately, they don’t work for everyone, and their effects wear off over time.
The drugs currently available in the UK aren’t able to stop the disease progressing in the brain. Alzheimer's Research UK is working to find more effective treatments that could halt the disease process, as well as treatments with more of an impact on the symptoms, to help maintain people’s quality of life and independence.