Did you know that there are over 120 types of dementia? How do you find out what type of dementia a person has? 

“There’s no cure, so what’s the point in knowing?”   It’s a perspective we’ve heard before — the idea that if there’s no cure, early diagnosis is pointless.

Imagine you have the first signs of tooth decay — a small cavity.  Would you ignore it just because there’s no ‘cure’ for tooth decay?  Would you say, “Well, I guess I’ll just lose the tooth? ”  Of course not.  You’d get a filling. You’d take extra care. You’d do what you could to slow the damage and keep the tooth going for as long as possible.

It’s the same with dementia.  Early signs might be subtle — a bit of forgetfulness, confusion with words, difficulty planning. Only a doctor can diagnose the type of dementia and give advice.  And catching it early opens the door to speech therapy, memory strategies, lifestyle changes, seeking support and planning for the future.  All of these can help preserve independence, delay progression, and give people more good years.

Saying “there’s no cure” doesn’t mean “there’s nothing we can do.”  The real danger is knowing too late — when much more could’ve been done if we’d only acted sooner.

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From a speech by Michelle Reshef Ash, MBA, CEO, Health Research Consultant, UK, shared by Tonya Runyard, Dementia Care Specialist, ADRC of Jefferson County.

For referral to a memory care clinic, contact your county’s Aging and Disability Resource Center, ADRC.

For information on keeping your brain healthy, click here https://www.alz.org/help-support/brain_health/10-healthy-habits-for-your-brain?

This article is submitted by Dementia Friendly Community Initiative, a program of Whitewater Seniors in the Park to help educate the community about dementia and to support patients and their care partners.  New committee members are very welcome!  Call Debbie to volunteer.  dandrus@whitewater-wi.gov  262 473 0535        

https://www.whitewater-wi.gov/273/Seniors-In-the-Park

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