What is dementia?

Dementia is a term for various brain diseases that lead to different impairments in people. For example, those affected have difficulties thinking, speaking or interacting with other people. 

Dementia can also make everyday working life more difficult or make itself felt in everyday activities, such as household chores. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. However, there are also other forms, such as

• Vascular dementia: This is caused by circulatory disorders in the brain.
• Lewy body dementia: This form is characterized by changes in the brain and movement restrictions.
• Frontotemporal dementia: It mainly affects younger people and leads to changes in personality and behavior.

Dementia can also be the result of another disease: Dementia can also develop from diseases of the thyroid gland or a lack of oxygen in the brain or brain injuries. Such forms are called secondary dementias. In general, however, the symptoms and impairments vary from person to person.

Understanding dementia

Dementia has a lot to do with memory and emotions. Remembering means connecting new experiences with old ones. Feelings such as joy, fear or anger help us to decide what is important and what is not. They play an important role in evaluating what should be stored in memory and what should not. In order to understand people with dementia, we need to understand that our memory is not only one of thinking, but also one of experiencing and feeling: a physical memory of the senses and touch, a memory of relationships and encounters.

It is important to support people with dementia in a way that maintains their quality of life and promotes their well-being. This requires that we take their feelings seriously, give them security and support and show them appreciation.

Living with dementia

It is possible to live well for a long time with dementia-related impairments. Especially if it is recognized early enough, psychosocial and medicinal measures can help to halt the progression of the impairments. The general public can also help: If everyone knows more about dementia, people with dementia-related impairments can be better supported in everyday life and lead a good life.

Austria also has its own dementia strategy with the aim of ensuring that people with dementia have many support options.