Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. The disease is gradual, starting with mild memory loss and potentially progressing to the loss of communication and environmental awareness. The brain regions that are responsible for thought, memory, and language are affected by Alzheimer's disease. The early signs of the disease include forgetting recent events or conversations. Over time, it progresses to serious memory problems and loss of the ability to perform everyday tasks.
Medicines may improve or slow the progression of symptoms, however there is presently no treatment that cures the disease itself. There are over 55 million people worldwide living with dementia in 2020. This number will almost double every 20 years, reaching 78 million in 2030 and 139 million in 2050.
According to recent reports, there are about 128 200 people living with some form of dementia in Switzerland. Of all people with dementia, six percent develop the disease before the age of 65. That is over 7400 young people in Switzerland.
Many risk factors can be actively changed through a healthy lifestyle and early treatment of health problems. By engaging in mentally stimulating activities or learning new things, new connections between nerve cells are formed or existing connections are strengthened. Prevention through physical activity improves blood flow to the brain and reduces the other risk factors of obesity and cardiovascular disease. Maintaining relationships also stimulates the brain: those who interact with friends and family lower their risk of developing dementia!