Clifden House

LATE NIGHT SIGNS THAT MAY SIGNAL DEMENTIA

Retirement can be a blissful release from the stresses and strains of work and responsibility, whether to your work colleagues, your family or yourself. It is also a time of great change and readjustment to a new and potentially very exciting time of fresh challenges and pursuits, as well as long-put-off dreams finally realised. Research by Dementia UK has concluded that whilst we are also at an advancing age, personality changes after people retire could signal the early presence of dementia.

Spotting the symptoms early on can be key to getting the best treatment for the condition, which is affecting more and more people as the country’s population lives longer. Different forms of dementia have distinct symptoms.

One recognised sign is when retired people get up in the middle of the night thinking they must go to work. Difficulty understanding time and place is a tell-tale sign that the person may be developing dementia. Another sign is an unexplained loss of interest in things the person used to enjoy. Becoming forgetful, getting lost in places that should be familiar, and having trouble holding onto fresh information are also signs the brain is beginning to fade. Mood swings, anxiety and depression are also among the things to look out for.

Dementia can take various forms, of which Alzheimer’s is only one. Different forms of dementia have distinct symptoms, which can help to identify them. For example, where there are mood changes but no memory loss it can be a sign of someone developing Lewy body dementia.

Are you at risk?

There is no one cause for all types of dementia and scientific understanding is incomplete, but there are things we can all do to reduce our risk. The best way to prevent dementia, according to Race Against Dementia, is learning. Higher and longer lasting education is proven to improve cognitive performance.

In midlife, symptoms including hearing loss, high blood pressure, obesity and a high alcohol intake are risks that can be tackled early. Limiting your alcohol intake to no more than 21 units a week; reducing smoking and physical inactivity, and taking steps to avoid social isolation can all act to reduce the risks. Despite these risk factors, the positive message to get across is that these are all factors that, for the most part, can be controlled to an extent and, even if you’re in midlife, you still have time to change and adapt.

Exercise. Eat a balanced diet. Keep a healthy weight. Control your blood sugar levels. Lower your alcohol intake. Reduce cholesterol. Stop smoking… All of these things will work together to reduce your blood pressure to a healthy and sustainable level, and act against the risk factors that could lead to dementia.

Clifden House Dementia Care Centre has been delivering exceptional residential and respite care for 50 years. It aims to maximise everyone’s potential through choice, reducing the use of unnecessary medication and alleviating the symptoms of dementia in a caring and supportive environment.