Counterculture 33: Dementia
P&G Pharmacy Care
One lunchtime at the OTC Pharmacy, senior medicines counter assistant Amanda finds young assistant Cate crying alone in the staff room.
"What's the matter?" Amanda asks, "Has someone in the shop upset you?"
"No, it's not that," sobs Cate.
"Well, what is it? Can you tell me?"
"It's nothing to do with work."
"Well, tell me what it is if you can. It'll help if you get it off your chest."
"It's my Gran," says Cate.
"What is it, is she ill?"
"Well, yes," Cate hesitates, then says, "no, not exactly."
"What then? Go on Cate, you can tell me," Amanda says gently.
"It's the way she's gone downhill mentally, quite recently. Grandpa died three years ago, but she was coping quite well until a few months ago. Then she started getting confused and forgetful, couldn't look after herself at home any more and had to go into a care home. I went to see her yesterday. She didn't know me at first, and then everything she said just didn't make any sense. She's being well cared for physically, but it's so sad to see her having to end her life like that."
"I understand," Amanda says.
"But it worries me, Amanda. Dementia in old people seems to be so common nowadays. I don't want to see my mum or dad end up like that. Or me, when my time comes. Isn't there anything that can be done to ward it off?"
Questions
1. What is dementia and how common is it?
2. What are thought to be contributory factors to causing dementia?
3. Can anything be done to ‘ward off'
dementia?
4. Are there any OTC medicines or supplements that might help?
Answers
1. Dementia is a gradual loss of mental ability, resulting in loss of memory, changes in personality, and loss of social ability. It is most common in people aged over 60, and becomes more common with age. About six in 100 people aged over 65 develop dementia, rising to around 20 in 100 for people aged 85 or over. There are thought to be about 800,000 people with dementia in the UK at the moment.
2. There may be a genetic component in some people, linked to the way that certain brain proteins are processed. High blood pressure, even slightly raised blood cholesterol, depression and diabetes are thought to be important contributory factors. People who have a healthy diet, an active lifestyle and interesting, stimulating jobs appear to have a lower risk of developing dementia.
3. Maintain a healthy weight, take regular exercise, drink alcohol in moderation, don't smoke, eat a healthy diet (including nuts, fish, poultry, fruit, green vegetables and tomatoes), reduce salt and saturated fat intake, monitor blood pressure and cholesterol.
4. The following may be helpful, although there is no firm proof. Anti-oxidants – vitamins A, C, E, beta-carotene, selenium, polyphenols. Vitamins B1, B12, B6 and folate. The herb gingko, but it may cause serious side effects if used long term and it interacts with some medicines, so refer people asking for this to your pharmacist.
