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How caring for a parent with dementia taught me about symptoms, prevention and why seeking out the latest research is so important
- Anthea Rowan knew little about dementia until her mother developed Alzheimer’s and forgot who her daughter was
- In this first instalment in a series on dementia, the author explains how delving into research is key to preventing or delaying the condition in herself
Reading Time:4 minutes
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This is the first instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope.
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There was a time I didn’t know anything about dementia – other than it meant a person lost their memory. Right?
I certainly didn’t know how common it was. But common it is: 55 million people are living with the condition worldwide.
With nearly 10 million new cases every year, there will be almost 80 million dementia sufferers by 2030, and 139 million by 2050, according to the World Health Organization.
And I had no idea that dementia is the seventh leading cause of death and the major cause of dependency among older people globally.
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I didn’t know these things because I didn’t need to. Not until my mother forgot who I was did it occur to me to look at the stats and the facts of this illness.
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