GADS holds its flag day today

In preparation to next month’s World Alzheimer’s Month, The Gibraltar Alzheimer’s and Dementia Society is holding a Flag Day today. Dementia is the biggest health and social care crisis facing the world today; every 3 seconds, someone in the world develops Dementia. 47.5 million people are living with the condition globally, with this number set to rise to 135 million by 2050.

Dementia is a collective name for progressive degenerative brain syndromes which affect memory, thinking, behaviour and emotion.

“Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting up to 90% of people living with dementia. But there are a large number of conditions which cause the symptoms of dementia, as a result of changes that happen in the brain and the ultimate loss of nerve cells (neurons). Other types of dementia include vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies and fronto-temporal dementia (including Pick's disease),” said a spokesperson for the society.

Dementia  affects everyone differently and it’s so  important that everyone affected by the condition is treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.

“It touches so many families but the quality of care people get after a diagnosis of dementia can vary and this has to change. It’s time to reflect on the impact of Dementia, a disease that will affect more and more people as the years pass. GADS  is encouraging people to learn to spot the signs of Dementia, but also not to forget about loved ones who are living with Dementia, their families and carers.”

Today there will be stalls throughout Gibraltar.