When it comes to dementia, there is a vast amount of misinformation on the Internet, and oftentimes this type of information can cause unnecessary stress and concern for seniors and their family caregivers. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to be aware of some of the most common myths about dementia so you and your family have an accurate understanding of what these symptoms do and do not entail. Outlined below are a handful of what we at SYNERGY HomeCare in Mid New Jersey find are some of the most common dementia-related myths:<\/p>\n
Myth one: dementia is caused by flu shots and amalgam dental fillings<\/strong><\/p>\n Numerous studies have linked flu shots to a decreased risk of dementia, and amalgam dental fillings have been deemed safe by renowned, highly reputable organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Public Health Service, to name just a few.<\/p>\n Myth two: dementia and Alzheimer\u2019s disease are interchangeable words for the same condition<\/strong><\/p>\n While many people believe that dementia and Alzheimer\u2019s disease are merely different words for the same condition, dementia is actually just an umbrella term for a number of symptoms commonly associated with impaired thinking and memory, while Alzheimer\u2019s disease is a specific condition and type of dementia. In other words, dementia is a word used to describe symptoms that are commonly associated with Alzheimer\u2019s disease, but it is not a specific diagnosis, whereas Alzheimer\u2019s disease is in fact a specific diagnosis.<\/p>\n The truth is that at this point in time \u2013 despite the many advancements of modern medicine \u2013 scientists still do not fully understand what causes all types of dementia. While the Center for Disease Control has found that as many as 50 to 70% of all people living with dementia are experiencing such symptoms as a result of Alzheimer\u2019s disease, there are still a number of other common causes of dementia-related symptoms, including Huntington\u2019s disease, Parkinson\u2019s disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, among others.<\/p>\n Myth three: only seniors can get dementia<\/strong><\/p>\n A person as young as 30, 40 or 50 can develop symptoms of dementia. According to the Alzheimer\u2019s Association there are more than 200,000 people in the United States who are living with early-onset Alzheimer\u2019s disease. This is important information for seniors and their family caregivers in the sense that believing this myth can cause one to unknowingly ignore early warning signs and refrain from getting care as soon as possible. If you have witnessed your loved one exhibiting dementia-related symptoms, it\u2019s important that you let his or her primary care physician know as soon as possible.<\/p>\n Myth four: trouble with memory is just a normal part of growing older<\/strong><\/p>\n While it is normal for your family member to start forgetting little things such as appointments or where they put their car keys, it isn\u2019t normal to forget key information like how to drive home or where the kitchen is located. The problem is that many people aren\u2019t sure how to distinguish between what is and isn\u2019t normal, and may be too quick to brush off a number of early warning signs as \u201cnormal,\u201d including:<\/p>\n