No change – the status quo persists
As we approach the end of another year, nothing has changed in the world-view of dementia since I started this work challenging the dogma that is ‘dementia’.
Nobody wants to know that there could be a different way of dealing with this notion that is ‘dementia’. Because when all is said and done, dementia is just that: an idea. It is not a disease.
‘Dementia’ is a convenient word. It is a lazy word. It gives us licence to pretend that we understand the myriad of diseases that present symptoms that are similar but not exactly the same. For instance, Alzheimer’s and vascular events affect language: but in very different ways. But because the use of language is so narrowly understood, we tend to conclude that a person’s difficulties with verbal expression is because of ‘dementia’.
Dementia continues to provide daily opportunities for sensational headlines:
Soothing scents can reshape our brains – The times 07-08-2023
Dementia risk slashed by eating fat found in breakfast favourite – The Daily Mirror 26-10-2023
Dementia to double by 2040, driven by poor lifestyles – The Times 26-10-2023
This is very lazy reporting, not only on the part of the journalists. Scientists are also to blame for summarizing their studies too simplistically. For instance, one of the scientists involved in the study reported in the Daily Mirror is quoted as saying that “Higher triglyceride levels may be reflective of better health and lifestyle behaviours that would protect against dementia”. Without reading the study in its original report it is difficult to know which brain disease that is referred to as dementia is positively affected by such a diet: Alzheimer’s? Lewy Body? Vascular events?
It is lazy and irresponsible of scientists to simplify their findings in such a way that leads readers to conclude that, if they eat more fat they will reduce their risks of ‘dementia’: which dementia? And what about other factors that are implicated by other studies, such as alcohol, environmental air, and generally poor life styles? If we eat more fat, drink less and move to live where the air is more purified – the Glens of Scotland say – will be less likely to develop ‘dementia’?
I must not forget that a poor sense of smell may lead us to develop dementia, according to the study reported in The Times in august 2023. If we invest in therapeutic aromatic scents our ability to recall events will improve therefore also slashing our risks of developing dementia.
All this irresponsible reporting contributes to people’s confusion and uncertainty of the diseases involved revealed by my dementia survey – Click Here To View Survey
It is frustrating that organisations such as Alzheimer’s Society (UK) and Alzheimer’s Disease International do not want to face this reality because too much is invested in the word ‘dementia’. It is indeed very convenient.
Image: Teona Swift at Pexels.com