Dementia causes the brain cells to die at a faster rate than normal, leading to failing memory, decreased ability to solve problems and communicate, and personality changes. -- ST PHOTO: STEPHANIE YEOW
MORE Singaporeans are getting dementia but few can identify beyond one out of its 10 common symptoms, revealed a recent survey.
And only one in a thousand, or 0.1 per cent, surveyed by the Health Promotion Board (HPB) could name three signs.
The most-commonly identified symptom is the loss of cognitive function, such as the ability to count, and only 60 per cent of the 4,500 survey respondents knew that.
More than nine in 10 did not know that losing the ability to recognise family members or carry out daily activities like teeth brushing are other common signposts.
Dementia, which includes its most common form known as Alzheimer's disease, causes the brain cells to die at a faster rate than normal, leading to failing memory, decreased ability to solve problems and communicate, and personality changes.
And this is not a normal part of ageing, said Dr Koh Yang Huang, senior deputy director of HPB's adult health division.
To get the general public to recognise the disease early, HPB is launching a dementia awareness campaign to highlight the warning signs.
The campaign involves a series of programmes, including a play titled 'Don't forget to remember me' and a roving exhibition.
There are now at least 20,000 people here with dementia, and the number is expected to jump to 45,000 in a decade.
The government is already preparing to meet the increase, with the building of two new nursing homes to take in elderly with dementia and upping the number of dementia day-care centres.
For more campaign details, visit http://www.healthymind.sg or call 1800 223 1313.
