What is dementia?
Dementia is a general 'umbrella' term used to describe a group of illnesses that affect how the brain works.
It can cause problems with memory, thinking, communication, and day-to-day activities.
It’s more than just forgetfulness — dementia makes it harder for a person to live their normal daily life.
Is dementia just one illness?
No, dementia isn’t a single disease. It describes a range of conditions that affect the brain. Some of the most common types include:
Alzheimer’s disease – the most common type, often starting with memory loss.
Vascular dementia – caused by problems with blood flow to the brain (like hardened arteries or after a stroke).
Lewy body dementia – may cause memory problems along with changes in movement or behaviour.
Frontotemporal dementia – may affect personality or language at first.
Each type can look a little different, but they all affect brain function and daily function.
What are the early signs of dementia?
Early signs can be subtle and vary from person to person. Common symptoms include:
Regular forgetfulness, especially of recent events
Feeling lost in familiar places
Struggling to find the right words
Difficulty following conversations or making decisions
Changes in mood or behaviour
These signs may not always mean dementia, but it’s a good idea to speak with a specialist if you notice them.
Can dementia be treated?
Is memory loss always dementia?
While there’s currently no cure, there are treatments that can be prescribed to help manage symptoms and slow down progression of the illness. It is important to seek help early so that potential treatable causes of memory loss are diagnosed.
Not always. Some forgetfulness is normal, especially as we get older. Stress, low mood, sleep problems, other physical conditions or certain medications can also affect memory.
That’s why a proper assessment by a doctor specialising in this area is important — to find out what’s really going on. Dr Younge takes a holistic view, ensuring dementia screening blood results are satisfactory or organising more specialist bloods, if necessary, to rule out treatable conditions like vitamin B12 deficiency. Brain scanning may also be helpful in clarifying diagnosis.
If you or a loved one are experiencing memory problems or other changes, you're not alone.
I offer supportive, confidential assessments here in Belfast, focused on older adult mental health.
Together, we can explore what’s happening and what can help.
Contact me today to book an initial consultation.
What is dementia?
The Royal College of Psychiatrists explains what dementia is, common types and risk factors and probability of developing dementia with age in this 2 minute video with subtitles