Dementia (health and wellbeing needs in South Tyneside)

What is dementia?

Dementia is a term used to describe the impairment of cognitive function.

This may include the person's ability to process information, reasoning and communicate effectively, which limits their ability to carry out daily activities without assistance.

Late On Set Dementia (LOSD) is a condition of people aged over 65, although some people, normally from aged 40, can develop what is called Early on Set Dementia (EOSD).

The World Health Organisation (source: World Health Organisation Fact Sheets: Dementia] suggests that there are more than 55 million people who have dementia worldwide, of which over 60% live in low and middle income countries.

Every year, there are nearly 10 million new cases.

A high proportion of people living with dementia (72%) will also have multiple mental and physical health comorbidities, the most common of which are arthritis, hearing problems, heart disease or a physical disability. Source: NCCMH: The Dementia Care Pathway.

The Alzheimers Society estimates that there are 944,000 people in the UK with dementia and suggests that this will increase to 1 million by 2030 and 1.6 million by 2050.

Whilst there are over 100 types of dementia, the four most common universally accepted forms are:

• Alzheimer's Disease - Around 60% of people with dementia have Alzheimer's disease, which relates to the abnormal build-up of proteins in the brain. Initially, memory of life events that happened a long time ago are often unaffected.
• Vascular Dementia - To be healthy and function properly, brain cells need a constant supply of blood via the vascular system to bring oxygen and nutrients. If blood cannot reach the brain cells they will eventually die, which can cause problems with memory. Around 15% of people with dementia have vascular dementia.
• Lewy Body - This presents with an abnormal deposit of a protein in nerve cells and is associated with cell damage. This can be the underlying cause of several progressive diseases affecting the brain / nervous system. Approx 10% of cases.
• Frontotemporal Dementia - Relates to less than 2% of cases but is a significant cause of dementia in people aged under 65. Nerve cells in the frontal and / or temporal lobes of the brain die and the pathways that connect them change. The frontal lobes, manages problem solving, speech and the control of emotions.

Over 10% of people may have a combination of types, this is called mixed dementia. Others equate to 3% and include Parkinsons Dementia.

Whilst people with mild cognitive impairment may remain stable or improve over time, around a quarter are likely to progress to dementia within 5 years.

In October 2023 there were 1,444 people with a diagnosis of dementia living in South Tyneside, NHS projections suggests a figure of 2,029 have the condition including those not currently diagnosed.

It is thought that there are approximately 100 people with EOSD in the borough, although there is some uncertainty about this figure relating to recording at GP level.