Dementia Myths

Contrary to popular belief, dementia is not a specific disease. It is a set of symptoms related to cognitive decline. Learn more about dementia by examining common myths.

Dementiais not a specific disease. Instead, dementia refers to a group of symptoms found in diseases that affect the brain. There are manycommon myths about dementia,which leads to misconceptions about this group of conditions by the general public. To fully understand dementia, these myths and misconceptionsmust be examined and used to dispel popular stereotypes. Here are 10 of the most common myths about dementia.

1. Myth: Memory loss always equals dementia.

Fact: Memory loss is not the only symptom of dementia, and occasional forgetfulness is not the same as dementia.

In many cases ofdementia, memory lossis thefirst symptomthat signals to a person or their loved ones that there is a problem. However, some forgetfulness is a normal part of aging. Further, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a middle ground fornormal aging memory loss vs. dementia. MCI is milder, and most people with MCI are aware of their forgetfulness. Also, not all cases of MCI lead to dementia.

2. Myth: Only seniors develop dementia.

Fact: Most people with dementia are seniors, but some people develop dementia as early as their 30s.

Theaverage age of dementiaonset does occur in the senior years. However, in cases ofearly onset dementia, thisagemay be dramatically reduced. Most cases of dementia that occur prior to reaching senior age are genetic. In these cases,dementia ageof onset may lower to a person’smid-30s.

3. Myth: Dementia is a normal part of the aging process.

Fact: Most people do not develop dementia.

Due to the majority of dementia cases occurring in seniors, many people believe thatdementia is a normal part of aging. However, this is not true. Some memory loss is normal during the aging process, but this normal progression is not as severe as dementia.Prevalence of dementiashows that risk for developing certain forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, increases with age. For example, as many as8% of adultsaged 65 and older are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, but this number increases to nearly30% of adultsaged 85 or older.

4. Myth: Dementia and Alzheimer’s are the same.

Fact: Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia, but it’s not the only form of dementia.

Understanding the nature ofdementia vs. Alzheimer’sdisease can be confusing since Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease accounts foras many as 75%of dementia cases. However, there aremany other diseasesthat can lead to dementia. This includes:

• Lewy body disease
• Huntington disease
• Parkinson’s disease
• Pick disease
• Progressive supranuclear palsy
• Multiple sclerosis
• Lyme disease

5. Myth: If someone in your family has dementia, that means you will get it as well.

Fact: Some forms of dementia have a genetic component, but there is not a strong genetic link in most cases.

While dementia is genetic and inheritedin some cases,not all cases ofdementiaarehereditary. If a family member has dementia, it may indicate a higher risk of developing dementia, but this is not a guarantee. Some forms of dementia, such asAlzheimer’s disease, are more prone to being passed on through families. Other forms of dementia, such as those caused by brain injuries or Lyme disease, are less likely to impact multiple family members.

6. Myth: People with dementia are prone to violence

Fact: Not all people with dementia become aggressive, but some people may express frustration through their actions after developing dementia.

Dementia and violencehave often been associated. However, violence is not a guarantee for all people with dementia. Violence and aggression becomemore common during the later stagesof dementia. A reason for this aggression may bedementia frustrations rooted in confusion.

There is no definitive explanation for why some people with dementia exhibit aggression and others do not. There are guidelines based on the understanding thatconfusion and dementiacontribute to this occasional aggression, which may be helpful for caregivers. These recommendations include:

• Avoid physically uncomfortable or over-stimulating experiences
• Do not ask more than one question or give more than one direction at a time
• Avoid loud noises
• Keep the person’s environment clean and clutter-free
• Do not attempt to argue a point or change a person with dementia’s perspective

7. Myth: Dementia is not fatal.

Fact: Some progressive forms of dementia can be fatal.

Dementia is fatalin many cases. Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, is thesixth leading cause of deathin the United States. The disease rises to the fifth leading cause in adults aged 65 or older.Dementia mortalitystatistics show that dementia kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined, andone-third of seniorshave some form of dementia when they die. Due to the increased mortality associated withdementia progression, people aged 65 or olderlive for about four to eight yearsafter diagnosis.

8. Myth: People with dementia don’t understand what’s going on around them.

Fact: A person with dementia’s perception and understanding of their surroundings vary at different times.

It may be difficult for loved ones who arecommunicating with dementiapatients, as it can sometimes seem that the person with dementia does not understand what is happening. However, people with dementia are not always clueless and confused about surroundings and events taking place. Dementia tends to be progressive, so a lack of understanding is more likelyin later stages. In early stages, a person may even be aware of their diminishing memory capacity. Even during the later stages of dementia, some moments of clarity are possible. For those who ask themselves, “What does it feel like to have dementia?” the answer can be complex because not everyone experiences it the same way.

9. Myth: Dementia is caused by exposure to aluminum.

Fact: There is no connection between dementia and aluminum.

Aluminum and dementiawere originally linked near the emergence of dementia diagnoses. It was once believed that cooking withaluminum pots and dementiamight be related. This belief spread to include theories about drinking from aluminum cans and thedevelopment of dementia. Some people also have considered the possibility of analuminum deodorant-dementialink. However, researchhas shown thatthere is no linkbetween exposure to aluminum and development of dementia. Earlydementia aluminum toxicitystudiesfocused on animals that were more susceptible to aluminum poisoning, which likely contributed to these false beliefs.

10. Myth: There are no available treatment options for dementia

Fact: Treatment is available to slow the progression of dementia.

Dementia treatmentis available, and it is partly determined by the specific type of dementia.Dementia treatment optionsvary greatly, and some amount of trial and error may be necessary for finding the treatment plan that works best for an individual. Some people have great success with medications while others find that medications do not help their symptoms.Dementia treatment guidelinesindicate that treating other conditions that contribute to confusion may also help to reduce the severity of dementia. Some ofthese conditions include:

• Anemia
• Congestive heart failure
• Depression
• Thyroid disorders

If you or a loved one is seeking treatment fordementia and a substance use disorder, The Recovery Village can help. To learn more about treatment for co-occurring disorders,contact one of our helpful representativestoday.