Dementia is an overall term for diseases and conditions characterized by a decline in memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking skills that affect a person’s ability to perform everyday activities. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common kind of Dementia.
What are the signs of dementia?
A certain level of cognitive and physical decline is simply part of aging, but Dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases destroy parts of our brain and nervous systems in ways that are not natural. Symptoms often start out subtle, but can quickly become debilitating.
Early signs of dementia can include:
- Short-term memory loss
- Difficulty keeping track of a purse or wallet
- Struggling with previous routine tasks like paying bills or preparing meals
- Forgetting dates and appointments
- Difficulties navigating
Brain Breakthroughs
Your brain is what makes you, you. It defines how you think, how you feel and how you function. When something goes wrong with your brain, it shatters your sense of being, and ripples out to family and friends.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. You have helped accelerate our pace of discovery and dramatically change lives with the support of our Brain Breakthroughs campaign.
Thanks to your support, we have exceeded our goal and raised over $42 million. Learn more.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s will likely strike in our later years, at a time when most of us look forward to enjoying a peaceful retirement alongside our loved ones.
Today, 750,000 Canadians aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. This number is expected to double by 2030.
Commons Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease
- Memory loss that disrupts everyday life
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks
- Losing track of dates or the passage of time
- Frequently misplacing items and being unable to retrace steps
- Struggling with vocabulary
Early signs can often be mistaken for the regular mistakes or forgetfulness that everyone experiences. But as these symptoms start to add up or interfere with daily life, you should consult with a doctor.
Clinic for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (CARD)
CARD at the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health is Canada’s premier Alzheimer’s clinic and research centre. Under the leadership of Dr. Haakon Nygaard, it is building worldwide research partnerships to fill the gaps in our knowledge of brain disease.
With philanthropic support, the team at CARD is developing a stem cell program to build a human model of Alzheimer’s. It compares healthy and diseased cells to understand what can go wrong in the brain and test potential treatments.
This approach allows for a highly individualized assessment of Alzheimer’s — opening the pathway for precision medicine.
Losing Linda to Alzheimer’s Disease
Linda was only 56 when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. As she lost herself her husband, Paul, was left to pick up the pieces.
Learn more about Linda.
