What exactly is dementia, what challenges do those affected have to overcome, and how does the illness affect families? A recent Dutch study found that knowledge about these and other questions surrounding dementia is insufficient.
655 randomly selected residents of the municipality of Groningen, aged between 30 and 80 years, participated in the study and completed an online questionnaire.
Thus, 68 percent of the study participants, for example, were under the misconception that dementia is a normal part of the aging process. This corresponded with the equally false notion, particularly among older study participants, that dementia risk cannot be reduced through a healthy lifestyle. Compared to younger respondents, older individuals also perceived dementia as a more severe illness.
Living a Healthier Lifestyle
Furthermore, a large portion of respondents lived unhealthily. Only a small portion intended to change their health behaviors. Older adults recognized less benefit in changing their health behaviors compared to younger adults. Similarly, seniors had less confidence in their ability to implement new behaviors. Participants with a high level of education were also better informed about the risk factors for dementia and ways to reduce the risk of dementia than participants with a low to medium level of education.
Think about old age in your younger yearsn
According to the researchers, more education on dementia knowledge is needed. This includes ensuring that younger people, in particular, become more aware of the symptoms and severity of dementia. This could help younger people, the scientists state, recognize the importance of a healthy lifestyle in reducing the risk of developing dementia later in life.
Here is the link to the study:
