Right now, four out of five people in New Zealand are affected in some way by dementia. Almost 60,000 kiwis have been diagnosed. And those numbers are predicted to grow. By the year 2050, there will be an estimated 150,000 people diagnosed with dementia. While symptoms of dementia commonly include changes in memory, thinking, behaviour, personality and emotions, it’s different for everyone. These changes affect a person’s ability to perform everyday tasks and interfere with their everyday lives. It’s time for us to get our heads around dementia.