Dementia: The Mistakes We Keep Making

Dementia is surrounded by stubborn myths that prevent people from making the right decisions in time. Here is what truly matters.

Myth 1: "It's just forgetfulness — it will sort itself out"

When significant memory problems begin, many people wait and hope. Dr. Saulitis is clear: when memory impairment becomes pronounced, action must be taken as quickly as possible. Delay does not improve the situation — it robs the person and their family of the time needed to arrange proper care.

Myth 2: "The person is still there — they've just changed"

This is one of the most painful myths. The doctor explains: personality is expressed through how functionally the brain works. Once the brain stops working, no amount of willpower, love, or patience will bring back who that person was. "There is no longer a person, there is no longer a personality" — this is precisely what loved ones find hardest to accept, and precisely what must be understood in order to make sound decisions.

Myth 3: "I'll manage on my own — this is my mother/father"

One of the most serious mistakes, according to the doctor, is delaying the move to specialised care. Relatives — especially spouses — take on an unbearable burden and eventually reach the breaking point themselves. "You will lose your own mind" is not a figure of speech; it is a real risk for those who provide sole, unsupported care.

What actually works for prevention

Three basic habits — what the doctor calls "micro-habits" — genuinely help reduce the risk of memory decline: quality sleep, regular movement (even simply choosing stairs over the lift), and healthy eating. He offers a guarantee: establish these three, and dementia moves significantly further away. A fourth habit is stopping all social activity two hours before sleep. These are simple steps, yet they are the ones most often overlooked while people search for something more elaborate.