Helping carers of family members with Alzheimer’s disease

First published January 2016, updated March 2022   Dementia describes a set of symptoms that includes memory loss, difficulties with thinking, problem-solving, understanding or language.1 Dementia affects approximately 800,000 people in the UK, with the risk increasing with age, hence it is a common condition in people over the age of 65.2 It is estimated that one in three people over the age of 65 in the UK will develop dementia, with the cost of dementia to the UK being £23 billion.3 There are two main types of dementia: Alzheimer’s disease, (AD) which affects 40€“50% of cases and vascular dementia