DEMENTIA: is it becoming more common?

Dementia is an age related disease, a disease that we try to hide behind us knowing that one of our love ones will most likely be affected by it.  Dementia is the loss of mental functions; thinking, memory, reasoning are all affected, which will interfere with daily life activities and hobbies. 
If you ever walk into an assisted living or nursing home you are bound to run into an individual that has some sort of dementia.  This leads us to the question, how common is dementia? 
Dementia that is caused by a nervous system disease, most common, Alzheimer's disease is greatly increasing.  Researchers have suspected that half of the people over eighty  develops Alzheimer's disease.  Around 8% of people over the age of 65 has some form of dementia, which may seem low, but just think, 65 these days is the new 50.  Unfortunately that 8% doubles every five years above that age.  
Yes, there are some forms of dementia that are treatable, but trying to run away from this age related dysfunction may be impossible.  So, the best advice may be to just enjoy the time you have now with your love ones and your own independence. 


Alzheimer's Disease and Other Forms of Dementia
http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/guide/alzheimers-dementia