Learn More about Alzheimer's and Dementia
Need Help or Information?
Visit Alzheimer’s Australia’s Website on www.alzheimers.org.au or call the National Dementia Helpline 1800 100 500.
Where does money raised go?
Money raised through Forget Me Not will be donated to The Hazel Hawke Alzheimer’s Research And Care Fund (HHARC).
Why the Hazel Hawke Alzheimer’s Research and Care fund?
One of our project’s directors, Sophie Pieter’s Hawke is Hazel’s granddaughter. We will request that funds raised go towards research into a cure, early onset dementia, or projects that aim to support young people who are carers.
What is dementia?
Dementia is a general term used to describe problems with memory and thinking. The early signs of dementia can be very subtle and may not be immediately obvious.
Common symptoms:
- Memory loss, particularly recent memory
- Confusion
- Personality change
- Withdrawal
- Loss of ability to do everyday tasks
There are different forms of dementia and each has its own causes, with Alzheimer's disease being the most common. Dementia affects brain cells and is progressive and irreversible.
People with dementia differ in the patterns of problems they have, and the speed with which their abilities deteriorate. Dementia can happen to anybody, but is more common over the age of 65.
What is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Alzheimer’s disease is a physical disease which affects the brain resulting in impaired memory, thinking and behaviour. The disease is named for the German physician, Alois Alzheimer who, in 1907, first described it.
As brain cells die, the substance of the brain shrinks. Abnormal material builds up as tangles in the centre of the brain cells and plaques outside the brain cells, disrupting messages within the brain, damaging connections between brain cells. Chemical changes also occur in the brain. This leads to the eventual death of the brain cells.
Memory of recent events is the first to be affected, but as the disease progresses, longterm memory is also lost. The disease also affects many of the brain’s other functions and consequently many other aspects of the person's functioning are disturbed.
There are two different types of Alzheimer’s disease:
Sporadic Alzheimer’s disease
- It affects adults at any age, but usually occurs after age 65
- It is by far the most common form of Alzheimer’s disease
- It affects people who may or may not have a family history of the disease
Familial Alzheimer’s disease
- It runs in a few families and is very rare
- If a parent has a mutated gene, each child has a 50% chance of inheriting it
- The presence of the gene means that the person will eventually develop Alzheimer’s disease, usually in their 40’s or 50’s
- This type of Alzheimer’s disease affects a very small number of people