What is dementia? Alzheimer's Research UK

Which diseases cause dementia? How do they affect the brain? What symptoms do they lead to? Voiced by Game of Thrones star Iwan Rheon, this short introduction explains the essentials of a condition affecting 850,000 people across the UK today.

[ashtonbutler]

Before my grandpa died, he had Alzheimer’s really bad. When he looked in a mirror he thought he was seeing his brother and started talking to his reflection.

[argfasdfgadfgasdfgsdfgsdfg]

I'm in my twenties and have been suffering from amnesia two times. Here is what I learned: You don't have to feel sorry for the people that loose their memory. One can still be happy in the moment, without knowing where or who one is. I can vaguely remember that during the period of my amnesia, I was making jokes and I was laughing. So if you ever meet a person that has Alzheimer, just try to make that person feel good. There is still quality in such a life.

[zaih]

Came here after listening to ‘The Caretaker’.

[uhhhh]

Everybody gangsta until its just a burning memory starts playing

[KentFPV]

My grandmother is beginning to show symptoms 😔, she hasn't been to the doctor yet but she has started getting lost in familiar areas and my grandpa is getting concerned. I pray she doesn't, I've seen what it can do to families.

[selenemurillo]

I love his voice. It's a little macabre... But I like it.

[oweznero]

Imagine watching this video for the first time and scrolling through the comments just to find a comment made by you years ago

[chrizlex]

All the love to those who suffer and also their family members.
I hope that one day we will be able to find a cure for it.
Thanks for that video.

(also THANKS IWAN FOR VOICING IT! 💓)

[cassieh]

My grandma has moderate to advanced dementia. At first it started out with Grandma saying "Oh what is the word I'm trying to think of again?" Minor stuff. This was 2 years ago. I have been a care giver for a while as well. Over the last 6 months I have had the honor of working at the same memory care facility my grandma is at. I am so glad I get to help take care of her and make sure she is ok. Now her dementia looks so much different. It has gotten to the point where every day she asks me "Am I staying in this room tonight? I have 4 others just like it." No matter how much I explain she only has one room, she always doubts it. A lot of the time she also believes that her son just leaves "the boys" with her. And that she never knows where they are. She asks me most days "Have you seen the boys? I just had them but they are hiding now. I can't believe he (her son) keeps doing this." She also tells me she has hallucinations of bugs crawling on her, and of a man crawling into bed with her every night. He doesn't say or do anything and just vanishes after a bit. He does not resemble anyone She ever knew. She isn't scared but calls him a "ghost." Sometimes it is as if she knows her thoughts are just fabrications, but sometimes she is convinced they are real. She is the sweetest lady and it breaks my heart seeing her go through so much stress. She recently told me that "nothing feels real anymore." I can imagine the feeling is unparalleled.

[Spingus]

Everybody over the age of 75 in my family has had some form of dementia. That thought is just plain terrifying.

[rashad]

My Grandpa has been diagnosed with dementia. So I've been trying to learn about this. Many of my family members have suffered with Alzheimer's. My grandpa is probably the closest person I know, and it scares me that one day he's gonna forget somethings. I've imagined what it'll feel that he would forget about me. I feel scared and sad.I usually make stupid jokes when I comment, sometimes I would just bully people. I've never expessed my feelings in my comments, I do expect people to make fun of me. My grandpa was in prison for two or so years before he was diagnosed. I would spend time with him all the time when I was little, I would do everything with him he was my best friend. Over time I didn't spend as much time with him, I moved across the country I made new friends. I moved back and moved to my dad (my parents are divorced). I went to a new school. It's been a while scene I have seen him, but I eventually move back with my mom. My mom lives with my grandpa I spend more time with him, my grandpa would spoil me. I would do everything with him, I would talk to him, watch movies, eat together nothing could stop us. My grandpa was a drug dealer and people wanted his money. People would try to kill him when he was younger, so his health isn't really good due to his gun/ stab wounds. My grandpa couldn't do as much things as normal 60 year olds can, my grandpa would struggle trying to pick up things, walking, carry things, going down the stairs, etc. I would help him with these things, it make me feel bad seeing him do these things. I would help him with those things, I expected him to live a regular life. After I heard him get diagnosed I searched up about dementia, and I was shocked and worried. I feel like I have a limited-time with him. He's my only grandpa due to my other grandpa dying in 92'. I try to spend as much time as I have with him. I pray for families struggling with loved ones with dementia. I pray for y'all.

[danielle]

I remember my Grandmother repeating the same thing over and over always when she was getting dementia. She was the sweetest person in the world! I miss my Grandmother dearly ❤️

[mikelindqvist]

Great explanation, great narrating voice too. More videos like this about any topic please.

[SidPhoenix]

I really appreciate this video and the fact that Iwan is doing this. More people should know about the disease

[lukafilipovic]

My grandpa died from really bad dementia.He keep talking things and remebering things from his childhood.He almost escaped from our house because he said he was going to see the new water tower that was build in his childhood.Also he couldnt recognize my grandma and thought she was a witch but he could recognize me and my parents.Fly high😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭🕊
Edit:Sorry for bad english

[kelseytyler]

My grandfather was recently diagnosed with dementia at 88 years old. We are heartbroken as a family... he was always the absolute sharpest man up top so this really came as a shock to us. It seems to be progressing very quickly, and he is now convinced that my grandmother, his wife of almost 60 years, is having an affair with another man. He really believes this and now treats her horribly. I really don't know which is worse - seeing my grandfather gradually disappear or watching my grandmother live in pain, loneliness and sadness. COVID has kept them isolated from the world (like many). What a horrible thing, I would not wish it upon anyone.

[komalpahwa]

Dementia is not the name of a particular disease, but the name of a large group of symptoms (syndrome). Some people call dementia “forgetting disease”, but dementia is not just another name for forgetting, it also has many other symptoms – difficulty remembering new things, unable to understand logic, hesitating to interact with people, Unable to do normal work, difficult to handle my emotions, personality changes, etc

[imsunasong]

This was well done.. I learned more from this video than all the research I've done. Thank you.

[mrdill]

I pray for those innocent people going through such horrible condition.... and joe Biden.

[denniskarlsson]

Something to bare in mind is you don't have to be incredibly old to develop dementia. I work at a care home and we've had multiple people in their 50s and 60s come in, though they *usually* only stay for a short period of time, like a week or two while their husband/wife has some time off taking care of them.