The Myth of Dementia

by Danni Meredith, Sector Support Coordinator

Many people believe dementia is a normal part of ageing. It is a common myth that once you hit a certain chronological age dementia is inevitable, however, dementia is not a normal or inevitable part of ageing. 

Dementia is an umbrella term that refers to a range of conditions including vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer’s, and others. So, tasks that were once second nature, like preparing a much-loved family recipe or choosing weather appropriate clothing can become increasingly challenging over time. Although it is commonly associated with memory loss, dementia can also affect speech, cognition, emotional control, behaviour and mobility.  

With statistics such as nearly 2/3 of Australians with dementia are women and over half the people in residential care are living with dementia it’s not surprising this myth of inevitability persists. However, that is one myth we can happily bust!  

In fact, if aged care workers take a more holistic approach to older people’s health and wellbeing you can to some degree reduce the likelihood of dementia occurring by modifying the risk factors linked to dementia. For example, 

• Social connection – socialise and regularly tap into your support network whether that be in person, phone or video call to stimulate your cognitive skills.  

• Stay curious – lifelong learning stimulates the brain, so actively seek out new learning opportunities or hobbies 

• Hearing loss – if you are hearing impaired always wear your hearing device to stimulate the auditory nerves within your brain and to remain socially connected 

• Vision loss- maintain eye health with regular checkups. Wear your prescribed glasses or contact lens to help reduce the strain placed on your eyes and brain.  

• High blood pressure – regularly monitor blood pressure, and learn how to effectively manage stressful events 

• Weight – maintain your weight within a healthy range 

• Smoking – quit smoking as this damages every organ within your body, including your vascular system and limits the amount of oxygen reaching your brain 

• High density cholesterol – monitor your cholesterol with regular blood tests. Chat with your GP about tips for managing your cholesterol. 

• Diet – eat a healthy balanced diet, rich in fibre, fruits, vegetables and legumes 

• Alcohol – limit alcohol in line with the national recommendations as continued heavy drinking impacts your ability to think and damages overall brain health 

• Type 2 diabetes – monitor and manage your diabetes with regular GP check ups  

• Exercise – increase your exercise to help maintain a healthy weight range, improve the oxygenation of your brain and to release feel good hormones 

• Traumatic brain injury – take preventive measures to reduce the risk of brain injury such as wearing seat belts whilst driving, wearing helmet when on bicycles and motorbikes.  

 Navigating and managing dementia requires a multifaceted approach.  Whilst we can become dementia informed and monitor our own health, the government also has an active role to play. The aged care reforms are designed to offer better support to people living with dementia, their families and support through the  

• establishment of localised dementia care pathways to streamline GP referrals 

• targeted dementia training for GPs and the aged care workforce 

• improved access to outreach services, respite and ongoing education for carers 

• promotion and use of dementia friendly building designs to create safer, more supportive environments 

• reducing the use of both physical and chemical restraints in the provision of care.  

 These initiatives are designed to foster a more compassionate, informed and responsive aged care system for those impacted by dementia. To gain a deeper understanding of how the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing are supporting individuals living with dementia with these initiatives explore their, Focus on Dementia Booklet.  

Learn more about dementia and its impact on the individual, families and supporters during Dementia Action Week 15 – 21 September. This year’s theme, “No one can do it alone” highlights the ripple effect dementia has on an individual’s social and support network. Click here to explore the many events happening nationwide designed to raise awareness of dementia or check out Dementia Australia’s helpful resources.