Questions Children Ask About Dementia
When I visit schools I never cease to be amazed by the questions that the children ask about dementia and memory loss. Here is a selection of their questions, along with my answers:
Q: Is it contagious?
A: No it is not.
Q: Is it hereditary?
A: Some rare causes of dementia are hereditary, but most are not.
Q: Do you get it from eating certain foods?
A: No.
Q: Can eating certain foods stop you getting it?
A: None in particular, but it is always good to eat a healthy diet.
Q: Do you forget how to swallow?
A: No, but in some cases, as the condition gets worse it may be difficult to chew or swallow.
Q: Do you forget how to blink?
A: No. Blinking is a reflex that is controlled by the muscles in our eyes.
Q: Do you die because of it?
A: You are more likely to die from the complications of dementia such as infections and fractures, than from dementia itself.
Q: If you get it will it ever go away?
A: Sadly no, but if it is diagnosed early there are medicines which may slow it down.
Q: Is there a cure for it?
A: At the moment there is no cure.
Q: Are there any tablets that help?
A: Yes, there are tablets available which will help the symptoms that affect thinking, memory and behaviour.
Please post any questions you have below: