Dementia Geriatrics “I was at the coffee shop with my father - when the drinks lady brought over our kopi, he pulled out a handful of coins and asked me to take the money and pay. I didn’t think anything of it until a few days later when we were out for lunch and I noticed he did the same thing with the stall owner when he was buying his food. Over time more cracks started to appear - he couldn’t remember where he had left things and forgot to meet some friends for lunch. Eventually he let me take him to the doctors for a check-up and he was diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s Disease.”
What is it? Dementia is a brain disorder that affects a person’s memory, personality and ability to think. This can make it difficult for people with dementia to work and do daily activities such as cooking, shopping and taking the bus. Who does it affect? Dementia can happen to anyone but it is more common in people over 65 years old. The older someone gets, the higher their risk of dementia. Is Dementia the same as Alzheimer’s Disease? Alzheimer’s Disease is one of the most common types of dementia but there are other types too, such as vascular dementia.