It is difficult to judge the exact prevalence of dementia in India because of this myth. In India, with the geriatric population increasing, incidence and prevalence too are rising.Overall, cognitive functions fall to such a level that it starts interfering in dressing up, eating, personal hygiene and taking care of personal belongings. Recent memory - what one remembers in the past 48 hours — is the first casualty.The symptoms that show subtle changes early on are labelled as mild cognitive impairment. Many functions of the brain get disturbed and memory is just one of them. For an accurate prediction, it is better to consider some risk factors and circumstances linked to dementia. But it is a myth that dementia is a normal ageing process and nothing can be done to prevent it.Generally, the subtle signs are forgetting what one used to remember easily. Family members often go for treatment of associated symptoms or behaviour abnormalities such as depression, without knowing it was dementia all along. The prevalence, incidence and severity increase with age and equally affect both male and female. Calculation is a skill that enables people to ‘read between the lines’, which Alzheimers disease patients cannot do. But remote memory — what happened in the long past — is not affected. They are:Age, Alcohol dependence, Genetics: Someone with a family history of dementia is at higher risk,  Smoking: Nicotine in blood vessels may cause hypertension, leading to early onset of dementia, l Increased lipids, or hyperlipidemia.

Those with chronic diabetes are at higher risk, Mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety, Hypothyroidism: A disorder in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone, Sedentary lifestyle and History of stroke.Dementia is categorised into two types: Early onset that begins before 65 years, and late onset that begins after 65 years. Family members of the patient will start seeing the difference. The recent research findings will help doctors deal with Alzheimers patients in a better way, though doctors are already China Custom Light Box letter Signs wholesale aware of all the factors.It may be possible to predict if someone is at risk more than a decade before being diagnosed with Alzheimers diseaseAccording to doctors, people notice dementia only after it has reached a severe levelIt is a myth that dementia is a normal ageing process and nothing can be done to prevent itSubtle signs of dementia are forgetting what one used to remember easily(The author is consultant psychiatrist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi).

Recent research has shown that rambling and long-winded anecdotes could be an early sign of Alzheimers disease.There are other signs of Alzheimers that have nothing to do with memory loss. Subtle changes in speech style occur years before the more serious mental decline takes hold.There is disturbance in thinking, comprehension, calculation, speaking and judgement. The scientists behind the work say it may be possible to detect these changes and predict if someone is at risk more than a decade before meeting the threshold for an Alzheimers diagnosis. People notice dementia only after it has reached a severe level. The patients are unable to think clearly or take decisions quickly and properly.Other early symptoms include forgetting the place where one kept personal stuff, such as spectacles, keys or money; inability to calculate quickly, and forgetting things to be bought from the market. The patients themselves, however, are not much aware of their forgetfulness.