(Kimberley Kielley/ The Brandon Sun) — September is World Alzheimer’s Month.
In Manitoba, there are more than 23,000 people who have dementia. This number is rapidly growing and by 2038 it is expected to reach more than 40,700, according to the Alzheimer’s Society of Manitoba. Even more startling is that 62 per cent of Manitobans are impacted by dementia because they have a family member or close friend with the disease.
Eighty-six per cent of Manitobans are able to identify memory loss as a symptom of dementia. Many know that changes in confusion/disorientation, changes in mood/behaviour and personality changes are also symptoms of the disease. Ten per cent or fewer recognize the other seven warning signs and 70 per cent of Manitobans believe it is possible to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. (…)