Dementia is a heavy word. The challenges and implications associated with dementia are inherently felt by those suffering from the disease. However, family, friends, loved ones and caregivers are particularly aware of the burdens associated with dementia. The disease most commonly begins to appear around the age of 65 or later. For many of us, when we are young, we see our parents as infinite and unbreakable. As parents age, the facade of the indestructible human fades, and oftentimes, reality sets in. The child of a parent with dementia, who is usually an adult when the parent’s dementia sets in, suffers the harsh realities that the disease brings with it.

Often, children of people with dementia can become engulfed in the responsibilities of a caregiver. Medication administration, appointments, tests and scans become part of their regular schedule. The individual with dementia may require more care and attention as their ability to remember, think and perform day-to-day activities becomes impaired. When caring for an individual with dementia, a person’s life is drastically changed.

However, to be able to best care for others, we must first and foremost take care of ourselves. People with at least one first-degree relative are anywhere from two to four times more likely to develop dementia than a person without such a relative. Dementia is not a disease process that appears overnight. The changes in the brain that eventually lead to symptoms start happening decades before the symptoms manifest. While dementia is a broad term that encompasses many disease processes, most of them have an underlying genetic component. We can control many things in life, but our genetics is not one of them.

At the Memory Center, we have an in-house lab that checks for a comprehensive list of possible genetic mutations that increase dementia risk. Along with bloodwork, we utilize an extensive combination of medical, clinical and radiographic diagnostic testing to identify people at risk for dementia. If you have a parent, friend or loved one with dementia, they would benefit from a full evaluation at the Memory Center. This message is intended for children of people with dementia: Come in today and let us evaluate your risk. Early intervention and identification can have life-altering changes in the future.

Call us at 201-947-4777 to schedule an appointment today, or visit us at MemoryCenter.Org

Dr. Jeff Shenfeld is the director of the Memory Center of Englewood.