Dementia is a memory loss condition that can have a profound effect on a person’s life. People who suffer from this condition are unable to perform everyday activities such as shopping or even managing their finances. This is because the problem could also affect their ability for rational thought or sound judgment, especially when the condition is advanced. Memory care in North Carolina can help reduce the impact of this condition on your loved one. This article will address some myths that still prevail around this memory loss condition.
Dementia Is Part Of Aging
While this is a pretty common myth, it is not true. While it is true that dementia tends to afflict most people of advanced age, the reality s that not everyone gets dementia. Many Americans go through their entire lives without ever suffering from dementia. While they may suffer from forgetfulness, this is typical in everyone and not related to dementia. This means that it is always useful to get a proper diagnosis from a healthcare professional rather than assume that your loved one suffers from dementia.
Dementia Does Not Affect Young People
This is another misconception that is common among many Americans. The truth of the matter is that dementia can occur at any age because the aging process does not cause it. While it is more common among older folk due to various factors, dementia can set in at any age. This is also why it is important t get a diagnosis from a healthcare professional if you suspect that you or a loved one is suffering from dementia. This is especially true if you have suffered severe head injury either through an auto accident or a sports-related injury.
Alzheimer’s And Dementia Are The Same
This is simply not true. The best way to think about dementia is to look at it as an umbrella term that covers several memory loss conditions. In that sense, Alzheimer’s is a kind of dementia, although not all dementia conditions are Alzheimer’s. There are many different memory loss conditions, such as Parkinson’s Disease, among others.
You Cant Prevent Dementia
This is also not true. Getting dementia is not inevitable, and many things can be done to reduce the risk of getting dementia. Some of these include living a healthy lifestyle, eating healthy food, and constantly exercising your brain through various mental activities. While these interventions do not guarantee you will not get dementia, they are believed to reduce the chances of developing the condition.
Dementia Cannot be Managed
This is simply not true. Many interventions can be taken to make it easier for a person who is suffering from dementia to live a fairly independent life and to make the most out of each day. Memory loss programs use a combination of cognitive learning techniques and other interventions to help slow down the progress of dementia and enable people with the condition to live a higher quality of life. Through activities such as music and art, people with dementia can keep their minds active, which is known to slow down the progress of the condition.
