What is Dementia?



Dementia is an irreversible condition. It is caused by a variety of factors or diseases. Individuals with dementia will continue to decline. The number of individuals with dementia doubles every 5 years after the age of 65.
How common is it?



Currently, more than 55 million people have dementia worldwide

  • It is estimated that one new case in every 3 seconds being identified.
    1Alzheimer’s Disease International. (2017). Dementia statistics. https://www.alzint.org/about/dementia-facts-figures/dementia-statistics/
  • In Hong Kong, 1 in every 10 people aged 70 or above has dementia.
    2Lam, L., Tam, C., Lui, V., et al. (2008). Prevalence of very mild and mild dementia in community-dwelling older Chinese people in Hong Kong. International Psychogeriatrics, 20 (1), 135-148. doi:10.1017/S1041610207006199
Common clinical symptoms



  • Memory problems
  • Disorientation to time and/or space
  • Language problems
  • Poor personal care
  • Decreased attention span
  • Impaired judgment
  • Behavioral and psychological symptoms
Types of Dementia



  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Vascular dementia
  • Fronto-temporal dementia
  • Dementia with Lewy bodies

Next section: Process of Cognitive Decline

What is Dementia?

 

Dementia is an irreversible condition. It is caused by a variety of factors or diseases. Individuals with dementia will continue to decline. The number of individuals with dementia doubles every 5 years after the age of 65.

How common is it?

 

  • Currently, more than 55 million people have dementia worldwide.
  • It is estimated that one new case in every 3 seconds being identified. 1
  • In Hong Kong, 1 in every 10 people aged 70 or above has dementia. 2

Common clinical symptoms

 

  • Memory problems
  • Disorientation to time and/or space
  • Language problems
  • Poor personal care
  • Decreased attention span
  • Impaired judgment
  • Behavioral and psychological symptoms

Types of Dementia

 

  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Vascular dementia
  • Fronto-temporal dementia
  • Dementia with Lewy bodies