The term Dementia describes the different brain disorders that trigger a loss of brain function. These conditions are all usually progressive and eventually severe. Alzheimerās Disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting 62 per cent of all those diagnosed.
Dementia is a general term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life.Ā Common symptoms include memory loss, confusion, and speech problems. Early warning signs may also include finding it difficult to follow conversations, or programs on TV, forgetting names of friends, or everyday objects and feeling confused even in a familiar environment.
Mainly affecting older people, after the age of 65, the likelihood of developing dementia roughly doubles every five years ā however, for some dementia can develop earlier, presenting different issues for the person affected, their carer and their family. There is also a considerable economic cost associated with the disease estimated at Ā£23 billion a year, which is predicted to triple by 2040. This is more than the cost of cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
At Randox, we recognise the importance in diagnosing dementia early. Ā Through our Randox Ā Alzheimer’s Disease Array which can be used for Rapid Identification of Alzheimerās Disease Risk. Randoxās Alzheimerās Disease Risk Array can be used for the direct determination of ApoE4 status from plasma, eliminating the need for genetic testing, assisting in clinical research and personalised medicine strategies. At Randox, we believe the importance of measuring ApoE4 protein expression in plasma is the way forward to screen those individuals at increased risk of Alzheimer Disease, as new beta amyloid-targeting therapies for this condition are being expected.
Race Against Dementia have been the partner charity for the Randox Grand National Festival over the past two years, working alongside this charity which was founded by three-times Formula One World Champion, Sir Jackie Stewart, with the aim of funding much needed pioneering research into the prevention and cure of dementia.
