Jim Broadbent: Actor on ‘distressing’ progressive illness – dementia

Although individuals often get confused about the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia, Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia, and together with vascular dementia makes up the majority of cases.

Common symptoms of the condition include:

• Memory loss
• Thinking speed
• Mental sharpness and quickness
• Language, such as using words incorrectly, or trouble speaking
• Understanding
• Judgement
• Mood
• Movement
• Difficulties doing daily activities.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention add that out of those 65 years of age, there were an estimated five million adults with dementia in 2014, projected to rise to nearly 14 million by 2060.

Although memory loss is common when individuals age, especially if affected by stress, tiredness and certain illnesses and medication, if individuals become increasingly forgetful to the point that they cannot go about their daily lives, it could be a sign of dementia.