Time now for our "Life & Info" segment,... where we focus on information useful for your everyday life.
Today, we are going to talk about a serious subject and a health issue that touches many people in one way or another: that is dementia.
We have our health reporter Choi Si-young in the studio to tell us more.
Si-young, let's clear something up from the start. There is a common misperception that dementia and Alzheimer's disease are the same thing, but that is not the case....
That's right, Mark.
Dementia covers a broad category of brain diseases. Alzheimer's disease is one of them... and the most common type.
South Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare and Korean Academy of Medical Sciences say Alzheimer's disease makes up the majority of cases followed by vascular dementia and other degenerative diseases.
And for people watching who might be concerned about a friend or family member, walk us through some notable symptoms of Alzheimer's disease....
The first sign of early Alzheimer's is that you begin to experience forgetfulness associated with aging.
For example, you forget where you left your wallet or keys.
Then you find it difficult to focus or concentrate.
But, I must stress, this doesn't necessarily mean you have dementia.
If you are confused expressing your thoughts or performing complex tasks or traveling alone to unfamiliar places, you should go see your doctor.
The key here is a decline in cognition.
If you feel you have these symptoms, please do not hesitate to visit your physician without delay.
The chances are these symptoms will only get worse and worse if you don't.
So, it's more to do with a cognitive decline than memory problems.
Could you be more specific on where experts draw the line between memory lapses and the onset of dementia?
For that, why don't we take a listen to what some doctors have to say.
"If I give you a hint and you recall whatever you forgot, it could be a natural memory lapse. But if you still cannot remember even after the hint, it could be a sign of early dementia. If you have dementia, you will also have problems communicating, calculating things or navigating the roads."
That's a clear explanation. I'm also curious to know if it's true that some people are more prone than others to get dementia?
It's true, yes.
Experts say people who are hard of hearing are more likely to get dementia.
And if your hearing loss is so severe that you can't talk with someone in front of you, you are four times more likely to develop dementia than other people.
Let's hear from a doctor on why this is the case.
"We hear and learn from the outside world. Hearing stimulates our brain but if we can't hear, there's no stimulation. If we can't talk, we remain disconnected and alone. We spend less time using our brain, and dementia begins to develop."
Well, I never knew hearing loss could sharply increase the chance of dementia.
So, are there any ways we can protect ourselves from eventually developing this condition i
Today, we are going to talk about a serious subject and a health issue that touches many people in one way or another: that is dementia.
We have our health reporter Choi Si-young in the studio to tell us more.
Si-young, let's clear something up from the start. There is a common misperception that dementia and Alzheimer's disease are the same thing, but that is not the case....
That's right, Mark.
Dementia covers a broad category of brain diseases. Alzheimer's disease is one of them... and the most common type.
South Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare and Korean Academy of Medical Sciences say Alzheimer's disease makes up the majority of cases followed by vascular dementia and other degenerative diseases.
And for people watching who might be concerned about a friend or family member, walk us through some notable symptoms of Alzheimer's disease....
The first sign of early Alzheimer's is that you begin to experience forgetfulness associated with aging.
For example, you forget where you left your wallet or keys.
Then you find it difficult to focus or concentrate.
But, I must stress, this doesn't necessarily mean you have dementia.
If you are confused expressing your thoughts or performing complex tasks or traveling alone to unfamiliar places, you should go see your doctor.
The key here is a decline in cognition.
If you feel you have these symptoms, please do not hesitate to visit your physician without delay.
The chances are these symptoms will only get worse and worse if you don't.
So, it's more to do with a cognitive decline than memory problems.
Could you be more specific on where experts draw the line between memory lapses and the onset of dementia?
For that, why don't we take a listen to what some doctors have to say.
"If I give you a hint and you recall whatever you forgot, it could be a natural memory lapse. But if you still cannot remember even after the hint, it could be a sign of early dementia. If you have dementia, you will also have problems communicating, calculating things or navigating the roads."
That's a clear explanation. I'm also curious to know if it's true that some people are more prone than others to get dementia?
It's true, yes.
Experts say people who are hard of hearing are more likely to get dementia.
And if your hearing loss is so severe that you can't talk with someone in front of you, you are four times more likely to develop dementia than other people.
Let's hear from a doctor on why this is the case.
"We hear and learn from the outside world. Hearing stimulates our brain but if we can't hear, there's no stimulation. If we can't talk, we remain disconnected and alone. We spend less time using our brain, and dementia begins to develop."
Well, I never knew hearing loss could sharply increase the chance of dementia.
So, are there any ways we can protect ourselves from eventually developing this condition i
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