Experts say January is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, shining a light on Manitoba’s dementia problem.
Erin Crawford with the Alzheimer’s Society of Manitoba said about 3,400 Manitobans are expected to develop dementia this year.
“So a lot of people know about memory loss, but they don’t necessarily know that there are behavioral changes that come with it, and judgment issues and communication problems that come with it. They don’t know what’s ahead. I don’t know if it’s going to happen,” she said.
Crawford says understanding dementia can make the diagnosis much less scary. Even through support groups and recreational programs.
“This is more helpful than anyone realizes. You may not feel like you need it, especially on the first day, but it can often be a real lifesaver later on,” she said.
Even for those who have not been diagnosed, maintaining a community can be very helpful for those at risk of developing dementia, she added.
Get the latest Health IQ news. Sent to your email every week.
Crawford also recommends maintaining a healthy lifestyle and talking to your doctor about memory problems, especially if someone in your family has dementia.
There is currently no cure for the disease, but she says that could change five to 10 years from now.
“It’s really exciting that as the research community starts to build on the discoveries that are happening now and the clinical trials that are happening around the world, we may find meaningful treatments in the future.” she said.
— With files from Katherine Dornian of Global
© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
