I welcome Dr John Zeisel's advocacy of non-pharmacological treatment for people with dementia.

The Telegraph reports that Dr John Zeisel, president of Hearthstone Alzheimer Care, an international provider of non-pharmacological treatment for people with dementia, is advocating a change of attitude and policy toward people suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. He states that his research and practice "has proved that non-pharmacological treatment of Alzheimer's, such as environmental design responsive to their capacities, caregiver education, and visits to museums with research-based selection of art works and specially trained guides, can be just as powerful as other medicinal treatments in reducing symptoms of dementia and the big four A's of Alzheimer's: agitation, anxiety, aggression, and apathy."

He is against dementia sufferers being confined to their homes, to hospitals or to care homes, and says they should be treated as and recognised as real people who are "still there".

This is surely the way to go, especially as so frequently in this country (the UK) psychotropic and other prescription drugs are often used for the convenience of the staff in old people's homes, rather than to be helpful to the residents. See the Telegraph articles: Half of nursing home residents wrongly drugged, study shows and One in five care homes lacks respect for elderly

You can reduce your risk of developing dementia by improving your nutrition and avoiding salt and salty food.