Dementia: normal ageing, political cause or social construction

Dementia is an increasing issue in modern society. Advances in medicine and technology have provided greater detail about the physiological causes of dementia, and awareness of the illness is becoming more widespread throughout wider society as governments attempt to find a way to manage the challenges the illness brings. But is dementia an illness in its own right, or is it part of a continuum of brain deterioration that happens naturally as we age? And how does the current medical, political and social stance influence the care of people with dementia? This article briefly examines the various opinions on these matters with a view to raising awareness of the influences on public opinion of dementia and the care people who experience this illness receive.