Dementia

1. Dementia By Jen, Natalie and Keith

2. What is Dementia? Dementia isn’t just one thing but around more than 100 different components characterised in the impairment of brain functions including;- language - memory - perception - personality - cognitive skills http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elNEgZpFFlU

3. Forms of Dementia • Alzheimer's disease • Vascular dementia • Dementia with lewy bodies (DLB) • Front temporal dementia • Alcohol dementia

4. Why it is a NHPA? • Dementia is the most recently added to the NHPA • It was selected because in 2010 dementia was the third most common cause of death • Dementia accounted for around 6% of deaths nationally • Also accounted for around $5 billion in health- related costs in 2009-10

5. How does Dementia contribute to burden of disease? • Approximately 321,600 people currently are suffering from dementia • Expected to increase to 200,000 by 2020 and 900,00 by 2025 • People usually live with dementia for awhile before they die from it or other health related issues

6. Risk factors of biological determinants • Gender- Lewy body disease is more common in males • Genetics - those who may have a family history of dementia have an increased chance of developing dementia • Down syndrome - those who have down syndrome are at a much higher risk of developing the disease • Body weight - obesity has been identified as a risk factor for developing Alzheimer's

7. Risk factors of behavioural determinants • Smoking -tobacco contributes to blood flow and increases the chances of developing vascular dementia • Lack of mental stimulation- people that don’t use their memory, attention or problem-solving abilities increases rate of developing dementia • Alcohol consumption -alcohol abuse over a long period of time can contribute to the development of alcohol dementia. • Food intake - high intakes of saturated and trans-unsaturated fats increase the risk of developing dementia - although if you consume foods consumed with high poly and mono-unsaturated fats will lower the risk of developing dementia

8. Risk factors of Physical determinants • Work environment -work places that don’t have stairs or walking around the office can increase the risk of developing vascular dementia • Quality of air - an environment where people are exposed to tobacco smoke, chemicals or other substances increase the risk of developing vascular dementia • Access to recreation facilities -people who don’t exercise regularly have a high chance of developing vascular dementia

9. Cost associated with Dementia Direct • Community: -in 2011 the direct cost of dementia was estimated to be over $1 billion-in 2009-10 the government contribution to medication was around $60 million • Individual:-co-payment for medication and payment for doctors’ vists

10. Indirect • Community:- cost for careers in 2009-10 the cost of formal care by the government was over $3 billion • Individual - cost of carers Intangible • Community - family and friends of those with dementia also suffer a sense of loss and sadness • Individual - an individual with dementia may experience sadness, anger, arability and despair - they also may not be able to participate in activities

11. Health Promotion strategies • Know the signs - The government is aiming to raise awareness of signs of dementia by providing educational posters and brochures • Living with memory loss program - The Alzheimer's Australia program provide care and assistance for people with dementia and their families • Your brain matters - The Alzheimer’s Australia program is aiming to promote the behaviours that can help decrease the risk of dementia

12. Your Brain Matters Alzheimer's Australia is an organisation that helps raise awareness and works to reduce the risk of dementia. Your Brain Matters works on improving modifiable risk factors in order to reduce the risk of developing dementia by providing a number of resources, including the brain help program, the brainy app and dementia-related help sheets