By Vincent D’Silva

JOHOR BAHRU: Dementia is not just forgetfulness, but a progressive illness that alters memory, judgment, and the ability to live independently.

This was the core message delivered by Dr Peter Selestine, a geriatric consultant at KPJ Abdul Samad, in his thought-provoking talk “An Overview of Dementia” at the Rotary Club of Johor Bahru’s (RCJB) weekly meeting at Suasana Suites Hotel.

The talk gave the audience a clear insight into dementia and its impact on individuals.

“Dementia is not a single disease,” Dr Selestine emphasized. “It is a group of symptoms that interfere with day-to-day functioning — whether it’s work, driving, or even simple social relationships.

Unlike normal aging, dementia causes progressive decline that can no longer be managed by reminders or simple adjustments.

The presentation, accompanied by slides, clarified common misconceptions. Many people assume memory lapses in older age automatically signal dementia, but Dr Selestine carefully distinguished the two.

“Normal aging may slow recall, but it doesn’t stop someone from living independently. With dementia, even with cues, recall eventually fails, and the person loses the ability to manage daily activities.”

He walked the audience through the different types of dementia — from Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form, to vascular dementia caused by strokes, as well as rarer forms such as Lewy body and frontotemporal dementia. Alzheimer’s, he noted, affects “about 10% of those aged 65–75, 20% of those aged 75–85, and up to 30% of those older than 85.”

The talk also shed light on warning signs: confusion in unfamiliar places, personality changes, suspicion, hallucinations, and difficulty with language. “If someone begins misplacing items frequently, forgetting close friends, or struggling with simple tasks like cooking or banking, it’s time to take notice,” he cautioned.

Dr Selestine didn’t stop at diagnosis — he also highlighted prevention and care strategies.

Not mincing his words, he said, Lifestyle plays a crucial role, with exercise, a healthy diet, and social engagement proving powerful shields.

“Most cases of dementia are not genetic,” he asserted. “We can lower risks by managing blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, and avoiding smoking. Staying socially and mentally active — even joining clubs like Rotary — makes a real difference.”

On treatment, he was frank yet hopeful: “There is no cure. Medications may slow the decline, but they don’t stop it. What truly matters is supporting the person and their caregivers, maintaining quality of life, and planning for the future.”

He reminded caregivers not to neglect their own health. “The carer is the second patient,” Dr Selestine remarked, stressing the need for respite care, community support, and connection with organizations like the local Alzheimer’s Society in Johor Bahru.

As the talk concluded, Dr Selestine left the audience with a sobering but empowering takeaway: “Dementia is common, but it is not inevitable.

Prevention, early detection, and care make all the difference. Living healthily today is the best investment in our future selves,” he added.

Dr Selestine’s clear explanation captivated curious Rotarians, who found his talk both enlightening and engaging. With rapt attention, the audience absorbed Dr. Selestine’s explanation, which clarified the realities of dementia and its impact on those affected.

Rotarians at the meeting engaged in lively discussion, reflecting the growing urgency to address dementia as a public health challenge not just within families but across communities.

Towards the end of his talk which was stimulating that captivated the audience, Dr Selestine also engaged with questions from the floor, many of which were timely and relevant, and he responded with thoughtful, well-detailed answers.