6 Common Misconceptions about Dementia

When it comes to dementia and Alzheimer’s, there is still much unknown about these diseases. One thing is for sure – patient’s with dementia begin to lose their precious memories.

As the world’s population continues to age, more and more individuals will be diagnosed with dementia, as it is primarily a disease related to aging.

Dementia can be scary, but it’s essential that you don’t believe all the information out there about it or else you could be believing false information. Here is the truth behind six common myths about dementia that you should forget about.

6 Myths about Dementia

1. Your life is over if you have dementia: Some people believe that if you have dementia, your life is basically over, but patients can still live active and fulfilling lives. Engaging in healthy activities and habits like exercise, social groups, and brain-challenging activities may help slow down disease progression.

2. If one of your parents had dementia, you will get it too: The rate of familial dementia accounts for less than five percent of cases, so your risk is small if you had a parent who had dementia.

3. Only old people get dementia: Although there is a higher risk of dementia among older adults, it can begin as early as 40 to 50 years of age.

4. Memory loss is Alzheimer’s disease: Some people lump together memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease, but you can have minor memory loss and not have Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease isn’t just memory loss, but memory loss that negatively affects your ability to perform daily activities. Some level of memory loss or forgetfulness is a normal part of aging.

5. Alzheimer’s disease is preventable: There is currently no proven prevention plan one can take to fully prevent Alzheimer’s disease. There are things you can do to keep your brain sharp and slow down disease progression, but there isn’t a single preventable thing that can be done.

6. There’s a dementia cure: As of now, there is no cure for dementia and Alzheimer’s, but treatments are improving and can add years of memories to your life.

Also read:

• 10 early signs and symptoms of dementia in men
• How dementia progresses: The 7 stages of dementia
• 10 everyday tips to boost your memory
• 25 best foods to increase brainpower