WHAT IS DEMENTIA?

Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of progressive neurological disorders, that is, conditions affecting the brain. There are over 200 subtypes of dementia, but the five most common are: Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia and mixed dementia. Some people may have a combination of different types of dementia and these are commonly called mixed dementia.

WHAT CAUSES DEMENTIA?

The brain is made up of nerve cells (neurones) that communicate with each other by sending messages. Dementia damages the nerve cells in the brain so messages can’t be sent from and to the brain effectively, which prevents the body from functioning normally.

Regardless of which type of dementia is diagnosed and what part of the brain is affected, each person will experience dementia in their own unique way.

DEMENTIA IN THE UK

Dementia is a global concern but it is most often seen in wealthier countries, where people are likely to live into very old age. The Alzheimer’s Society (2014) reports there are over 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK today. Of these, approximately, 42,000 are people with young onset dementia, which affects people under the age of 65. As a person’s age increases, so does the risk of them developing dementia. It is estimated that the number of people living with dementia in the UK by 2025 will rise to over one million. Rates of diagnosis are improving but many people with dementia are thought to still be undiagnosed.

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH DEMENTIA

In my life I have been in the unfortunate position to see how this disease effects and works as it took hold on 2 of my grandparents, namely my Grandfather George Pugsley and then my Grandmother Iris Lamprey.

Seeing them both from day to day, week to week and year to year slowly go from the loving and fun grandparents they were, to becoming more recluse, their memory fading, regressing to earlier years and in turn forgetting their loved ones and the people around them.

Occasionally, and only occasionally you would see a glimmer of themselves come through, usually when engaged in some form of social or external interaction. For my Grandfather it was a trip out to Woolacombe Beach in the car, where we'd chat whilst driving about nothing inparticular, an occasional repeat of previous comments and no matter what time of year it was the Ice Cream shop awaited us for his usual 99 Cornet.

These times I remember fondly of my Grandfather and times with my Grandmother, but one thing always comes back to haunt me after I found my niche within our broader gaming community. The fact that keeping a brain fully active from the early signs of Dementia can keep our loved ones closer to us for longer.

If only I had found the Board Gaming bug earlier, I know for certain my Grandparents would have indulged me to any degree, joined in and I would have hopefully had a little longer with them.

Supporting this campaign is a no brainer for me from personal experience, and I hope to spread the word through our group and raise some much need funds and support for Dementia UK. I would love for you to help in any way you can, even if it's just attending our events in September and October, where I'll be donating a pound from everyone's entry fee to Dementia UK. I will also be donating a percentage of any games I have for sale that day.

If you can't attend either of our events and wish to donate to Dementia UK I have also set up a 'Just Giving Page' for people to donate whatever they can.

For all other information please click on the following links for 'Dementia UK' and the 'Raise Your Game' Campaign

We look forward to gaming with you soon.