Dementia is not part of normal ageing.

Dementia is an umbrella term for brain conditions that cause progressive cognitive decline, making everyday activities increasingly difficult.

Beyond memory loss, dementia affects problem-solving skills, thinking abilities, and language.

In Singapore, 1 in 11 seniors over 60 lives with dementia, with an estimated 100,000 people currently affected.

These numbers are expected to rise significantly as our population ages.

Types of dementia

Common types of dementia include:

• Alzheimer’s disease: The most common form, accounting for 60-80% of cases, characterised by memory loss and cognitive decline due to brain cell damage.
  
  
• Vascular dementia: Caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, often following strokes or other conditions affecting blood circulation.
  
  
• Lewy body dementia: Features fluctuating cognition, visual hallucinations, and movement problems similar to Parkinson’s disease.

Comprehensive dementia care requires a multidisciplinary approach involving geriatricians, neurologists, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, medical social workers, nurses, and trained caregivers.

Early detection and intervention are crucial for managing symptoms, planning care, and maintaining quality of life for both persons with dementia and their families.

In this Q&A, post your questions about dementia and learn more about prevention, early detection, and the support services available for managing this complex condition.

Related articles:
Understanding Dementia

CGH Dementia Ward - Person-centred care that truly matters

Adjunct Assocociate Professor Lim Si Ching is a Senior Consultant with the Department of Geriatric Medicine at Changi General Hospital (CGH). She is also Education Director for the Centre of Memory and Cognitive Disorders with SingHealth Duke-NUS.

Prior to training in geriatric medicine, Dr Lim was a renal physician overseeing the largest dialysis centre in Brunei. After completing her specialist training in geriatric medicine at CGH, she went on to set up the inpatient service for geriatric medicine at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), including training for nurses, medical students, junior doctors and trainees.

As a Senior Consultant in CGH, Dr Lim established Ward 58 for patients with dementia, and is actively involved in multiple quality improvement projects at CGH. 

Dr Lim is a keen teacher and is affiliated with NUS, Duke-NUS, LKC and SUSS. She is also an appointed as Visiting Professor for Beijing University First hospital, Gellar Institute of Ageing and Memory of University of West London.

Ref: F26