More than 4 million Indians above the age of 60 suffer from dementia. Add to this the fact that about 1 in 16 households with an elderly person have a dementia patient. However, many people fail to recognise and understand the symptoms. In approximately 70 per cent of the population in rural areas as well, dementia remains unrecognized and this can be largely attributed to limited medical facilities.
Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability. This can become severe enough to interfere with daily life. Memory loss is an example. Alzheimer's is the most common type of dementia. Dementia is an umbrella term describing a wide range of symptoms associated with a decline in memory or other thinking skills.
These can later become severe enough to reduce a person's ability to perform everyday activities. While symptoms of dementia vary in people, there are some basic signs which are significant in the diagnosis of dementia: loss of memory, problems with communication and language, decreased ability to focus and pay attention, impaired reasoning and judgment, and decreased visual perception.
Although there is no specific way to prevent dementia, following a healthy lifestyle can help lower the risk. The following steps can be taken towards this direction.
— Courtesy Indian Medical Association