Dementia home care St George

What is dementia?

Dementia is an umbrella term or a collective name for progressive degenerative brain syndromes which affect memory, thinking, behaviour and emotion, which affects a person’s ability to perform normal daily activities. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia.

In 2024, it is estimated that more than 421,000 Australians live with dementia.

Without a medical breakthrough, the number of people with dementia is expected to increase to more than 812,500 by 2054

Source: Dementia Australia (2023) Dementia Prevalence Data 2024-2054, commissioned research undertaken by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

What are the causes of dementia?

Dementia can happen to anybody, but it is much more common after the age of 65. Many different conditions can cause dementia. For many people diagnosed with dementia, the exact cause is never known. Dementia can be hereditary, but this is quite rare. Your risk depends on the cause of the dementia. About a third of people with Alzheimer’s disease have a close relative (parent or sibling) diagnosed with dementia. However, in many cases, it occurs when there is no family history of the condition.

What are the symptoms of dementia?

Symptoms of dementia almost always include much more than memory changes such as difficulty in finding the right words or understanding what people are saying, difficulty in performing previously routine tasks, and personality and mood changes. Because dementia can be caused by so many different conditions, everyone’s experience of dementia is unique.

Common symptoms of dementia

Memory

You might find it harder to remember recent events, names of things and people. It might also get harder to make new memories.

Thinking

You might get more confused, have trouble concentrating, planning and problem-solving, struggle to complete everyday tasks, find it hard to think of the right word or express yourself, and find it hard to judge distances, directions and time.

Mood

You might find yourself feeling less motivated and social, more prone to depression, anxiety and agitation, or otherwise not yourself.

Behaviour

You might start saying or doing things that are out of character for you. You might become restless and wander, and have more disturbed sleep.

Stage One: Early stage dementia

In mild or early-stage dementia, you might experience some changes in your thinking and memory.

You might sometimes repeat yourself, mix up words, or misplace things more than you used to.

You might struggle more in social situations, or feel less motivated.

But most people with early-stage dementia are able to support themselves. In fact, many people at this stage don’t have a diagnosis of dementia, because their changes haven’t felt worrying enough for them to get tested.

Stage Two: Middle-stage dementia

In moderate or middle-stage dementia, the changes to your mood, memory, thinking and behaviour are stronger. They have a bigger effect on your ability to do everyday things and take care of yourself.

You might have more trouble concentrating, understanding, reasoning and communicating.

You might forget how to dress or bathe, or to recognise family and friends.

You might experience confusion, distress, mood changes and aggression.

These stronger changes mean you will likely need support from other people, at home and in the community.

Stage Three: Late-stage dementia

In severe or late-stage dementia, your symptoms will be very strong. You may be unable to communicate, walk, control your bodily functions or look after your hygiene. You may be unable to remember people or places, and be unable to form new memories.

At this stage, people living with dementia will require constant supervision and care such as in a specialised aged care facility with professional support and monitoring

Treatment and management of dementia

There are many different treatments and ways to manage dementia. There’s no known cure for dementia yet. But there are treatments to help you live the best life you can.

If you are diagnosed with dementia, your doctor and a specialist, like a neurologist, psychogeriatrician, geriatrician or psychiatrist, will usually be involved in prescribing medications for you.

There is currently no known medication that can cure dementia. But medication can treat some of the symptoms that come with different forms of dementia. They can also help with some of the conditions that come along with dementia, like anxiety and sleep problems.

The future of dementia treatment

Trials are in progress assessing benefits of an Alzheimer’s vaccine (having a component of the amyloid protein found in plaques), inhibitors of the enzymes that produce amyloid and therapies using nerve growth factor. These approaches may prove to be effective, but much more work is needed.

Researchers around the world are working to develop effective treatments for dementia, and eventually to find a cure. Much of this work is focussed on Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia.

Dementia & Alzheimer's support in St George

What is dementia?

What are the causes of dementia?