But dementia is complex. And like any complex condition, it’s subject to a staggering array of myths, misconceptions, and stereotypes. On the surface, myths about dementia seem harmless; the kind of garden variety half-truths that you’d expect on any social media platform.
But dementia myths can be deeply harmful, discouraging people from seeking the support they need, contributing to outdated stereotypes, and, in extreme cases, influencing people into taking drastic action to prevent or slow the disease.
With that in mind, we’ve pulled together five of the most common dementia myths, each in need of debunking.
Let’s get started, shall we?
1. Dementia Only Affects Older People
Perhaps the most widely believed—and therefore harmful—dementia myth on our list, the notion that dementia exclusively affects older people is inaccurate.
But, like any myth, it’s rooted in a truth. Or, at least, a misrepresentation of statistics. You see, while dementia cases are higher in the elderly, younger people can (and do) experience dementia.
There’s even a term for it: young onset dementia.
As we covered in our blog on young onset dementia, dementia is known as ‘young onset’ when symptoms of the disease present in people under 65. In fact, according to statistics from the Young Onset Dementia Network, the condition affects upwards of 70,000 people in the UK, including children.
And this is why dementia myths can be so destructive. They affect society’s perception of the condition, meaning fewer people seek the support they need.
2.Dementia is a Natural Part of Ageing
Right. Let’s set the record straight, shall we? Dementia isn’t a natural, inevitable part of ageing, no matter what’s posted to social media or shared by ‘experts.’
To some extent, this is where myths and facts about dementia become tangled, making it difficult to know exactly what to believe. Truly, the notion that dementia is a natural part of ageing is espoused so commonly online that you’d swear it were true.
But it isn’t.
It’s likely that this myth spans from statistics being misunderstood, or even wilfully misconstrued. As you can imagine, cases of dementia—in all its forms—are considerably higher in older people, but that doesn’t make it a foregone conclusion.
In fact, dementia, like stroke, cancer, or heart disease, is modifiable, meaning it can be changed. Whether it’s taking steps to lower your blood pressure, manage your weight, or stay active as much as is possible for you, the risk of dementia can be dramatically reduced, regardless of age.
According to an article by the Alzheimer’s Society, while things such as minor memory loss, difficulty absorbing new information, and misplacing items are commonplace as we age, they’re not signs of dementia, per se.
For example, a natural sign of ageing might be misplacing your house keys, whereas a sign of dementia might be putting your house keys in the fridge.
As such, it’s important to understand what’s normal for you, and speak to a healthcare professional if something seems amiss.
3. Dementia Only Affects Memory
As with many myths pertaining to health, we likely have pop culture to thank for this one.
You see, while dementia representation on screen has improved greatly in recent years, it’s still frequently reduced to ‘memory issues’, often used as a plot-device to add jeopardy to a situation.
The problem? Dementia myths, when portrayed in such… limited ways become interpreted as dementia facts, as the average person will (understandably) assume that what they’ve seen on screen is accurate.
So, what is accurate?
Simply put, memory issues are a symptom of dementia, in all its forms, but they’re far from the only symptom. As noted on the NHS Dementia page, dementia affects everything from memory to mood, speech to personality. It impacts concentration, planning, and orientation. In later stages, it can even present with severe delusions and hallucinations.
Dementia is a complex, multi-faceted condition, with a wide variety of symptoms spanning far beyond memory issues. That said, if you find yourself struggling with memory in a way that seems abrupt or unusual for you, be sure to seek professional advice.
4. Dementia is Hereditary
As with most (if not all) of the dementia myths on our list, the notion that dementia is hereditary likely perpetuates based on a misrepresentation of statistics.
But that’s exactly what it is—a misrepresentation.
The truth, as you can imagine, is much more complicated. You see, while genetics can be a factor in developing dementia, a family history of the illness doesn’t guarantee that you’ll develop the condition yourself.
As noted in research by the Harvard Medical School, the development of dementia is the result of a complex interplay of genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors.
For example, a person with a family history of dementia isn’t guaranteed to develop the disease, but an unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, and even limited social engagement can increase that person’s likelihood of dementia.
Similarly, the presence of comorbid (i.e. occurring at the same time) conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure can increase your chances of developing one of the several major types of dementia.
That said, a genetic history of the disease doesn’t make it a foregone conclusion, and by making lifestyle changes, you can decrease your likelihood of developing the condition, even with a hereditary link.
So no, dementia isn’t hereditary, but a family history of the disease increases your likelihood of developing the condition
5.Dementia Makes People Violent
Our final dementia myth is, perhaps, the most harmful. An often-misreported notion that contributes to harmful stereotypes of the disease.
You see, while it’s true that aggression can be a symptom of dementia—especially in later stages—it doesn’t exist in isolation. Dementia doesn’t make people violent. That said, people living with dementia can lash out, both verbally and physically, so it’s no surprise that a link is made between dementia and violence.
So, what’s the reality?
Well, in truth it’s more of an environmental issue. As the disease progresses it damages more of the brain, affecting memory, speech and language, orientation, and sleep.
As such, people living with dementia often find themselves fatigued, frightened, or disoriented, but may struggle to communicate these things to those around them, leading to frustration presenting as aggression, anger, or in extreme cases, violence.
But it’s important to view these things in context. For example, if a person with dementia is hungry or thirsty, but struggles to communicate this, they may become agitated and lash out. The same is true of physical pain, overstimulation, or disorientation.
So it’s less a case of ‘dementia makes people violent’ and more a case of the interplay between communication issues and environmental factors.
Presenting it any other way is at best, reductive, and at worst, harmful.
If you’re caring for someone with dementia, be sure to consider the wide range of environmental factors that might be at play. Ask yourself:
- Is my loved one hungry or thirsty?
- Are they frightened or uncomfortable?
- Are medications causing side-effects?
- Are you becoming agitated with them, triggering retaliation?
Each of these things factor in to aggression in dementia, and understanding and compassion is paramount when supporting someone with dementia
And there you have it. Dementia myths, busted. Like all complex conditions, dementia is subject to all manner of half-truths and hearsay, so it’s important to educate yourself on the realities of the disease, and how live-in care can offer support, should you need it.
For more dementia facts, check out our other articles, including pieces explaining the stages of dementia and what to do after receiving a dementia diagnosis.