Dr Dan Nightingale on dementia

Dementia is a fairly common condition. According to the Alzheimer's Society there are currently 700,000 people with dementia in the UK. It is not a single illness, but a group of symptoms caused by specific brain disorders.

The most common cause is Alzheimer's disease, but dementia can also be the result of stroke, otherwise known as vascular dementia. What they have in common is a loss of brain function that is usually progressive and eventually severe. Dementia mainly affects those over 75, and while symptoms vary, memory loss is a typical precursor to the disease.

People with dementia may also have problems controlling their emotions or behaving appropriately in social situations. Aspects of sufferers' personality may also change and vary. Eventually they may no longer be able to live independently. Although there is no cure for dementia, with treatment many people can continue to live fulfilling lives.

Family link

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My grandfather and two uncles were both diagnosed with Alzheimer's in their 60s. What can I do to limit my chances of developing the disease? I am in my mid-50s now.

Researchers believe the development of dementia depends on both genetic and environmental factors. Not everyone who has experienced these will develop the condition. Equally, avoiding risk factors will not guarantee that you don't. Risk factors include: age – the chances of developing dementia increase as we age; gender – women are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease as they live longer, but vascular dementia is more common in men due to increased rates of heart problems and high blood pressure; alcohol – drinking excessive amounts over a prolonged period makes us vulnerable; smoking – smokers are almost twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's.

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My mother was diagnosed with dementia several years ago and we are now thinking about a care home for her. Can you help?

Look at several care homes and visit at different times. Look around, talk to staff and residents and take your family member along to watch how staff interact with them. Find out if visitors are welcome and families encouraged to play a big part in care.

Also, consider what types of care are offered, what activities and food is available, the age of the home and whether it meets government standards. Check the home's latest inspection report from the Care Commission (www.carecommission.com) and be sure to view the complaints log on its website.

Memory loss

I am 66 and physically fit and active but have been forgetting things recently. Does this mean I have dementia and will get worse?

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Memory becomes worse with age, while tiredness, overwork, anxiety, depression, illness and stress are all factors. But forgetfulness is also an early sign of dementia so get help if you: struggle to remember recent events, but can recall the distant past; find it hard to follow conversations or TV programmes; forget the names of friends or objects; cannot recall things you have heard or read; find decisions difficult; repeat yourself or lose the thread; find thinking and reasoning difficult; feel anxious or angry about your forgetfulness; other people comment on your forgetfulness.

Dr Dan Nightingale is head of dementia science for the Priory Group

• This article was first published in The Scotland On Sunday, April 25, 2010