Dementia cases on the rise
September 20th 2010 20:42
Signature Tune
CASES of dementia in the Latrobe Valley are predicted to increase 269 per cent by 2050, with 1391 people anticipated to be suffering from the condition by 2020.
According to the Department of Health there are more than 900 people with dementia in the Latrobe Valley - 366 men and 556 women.
Alzheimer's Australia Vic acting chief executive Jack Sach said the data indicated dementia could not be ignored.
He said dementia was already the third largest cause of death in Australia.
``Baby boomers start turning 65 this year and as they age they enter the higher risk age groups for dementia,'' Mr Sach said.
``Quality of life for people with dementia and their families can be enriched with support services and a dementia free life is possible by investment in medical research and dementia risk reduction.''
A seminar will be held in Bairnsdale tomorrow to provide information about dementia and encourage those concerned about their memory loss to get a speedy diagnosis so treatment can begin as soon as possible.
Alzheimer's is the most common disease, causing between 50 and 70 per cent of all cases of dementia.
It is a progressive, degenerative illness that attacks the brain, disrupting messages within the brain and damaging connections between brain cells.
Other causes of dementia include vascular dementia, Parkinson's disease and lewy body dementia.
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unlucky_ fishermen.com
Angling Fish
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Comment by katyzzz
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