September is World Alzheimer’s Month, an international campaign that encourages greater awareness of dementia and the importance of understanding the condition. The 2026 theme is: “The earlier you know, the more you can do: a dementia diagnosis matters.”

But what exactly is dementia and other associated conditions? Knowing the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease is crucial.

When I was growing up the general consensus was all senior citizens were prone to become “senile”! Thank goodness we have replaced the word and thought with more polished and less discriminate wording with terms like dementia, “cognitive impairment,” or “memory decline”. We've also learnt that the various conditions are no respecter of age … it can take the young, the old, and everyone in between.

So many terms have popped up over the years, leaving me confused (no pun intended) but with awareness campaigns and organisations like our very own Dementia Bermuda, I feel much more aware and equipped to understand it all more clearly.

I've learnt through my very basic research that dementia is an umbrella term for changes in memory, thinking, communication or other cognitive abilities that interfere with everyday life.

Alzheimer’s disease is a specific brain disease and the most common cause of dementia. Other forms include vascular dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies.

I've learnt more importantly that dementia is not simply a normal part of ageing.

When an elderly parent begins repeatedly asking the same questions, becoming confused about familiar places or experiencing noticeable changes in behaviour, it is important not simply to dismiss these changes as “old age”.

An early assessment can help determine what may be causing the changes and whether further investigation is needed. If dementia is diagnosed, knowing sooner can give the person and their family more time to understand the condition, access appropriate support, consider available treatments and therapies, make practical plans for the future, and discuss important decisions while the person can still express their wishes.

It can also help families understand what changes to expect, learn how best to communicate and care for their loved one, and identify support for the caregiver before the demands become overwhelming.

An early diagnosis does not mean that everything about the future is known, nor does it mean that every form of dementia can be treated or slowed. But knowing what you are dealing with can replace some of the uncertainty with information, preparation and support.

In Bermuda, Dementia Bermuda provides support, education and advocacy for people living with dementia and those who care for them. Its work also helps challenge the stigma that can leave families feeling isolated or reluctant to seek help.

Across faiths and cultures, there are teachings that call us to care for people with compassion and respect. In Islam, for example, the Koran reminds us: “Allah is the One Who created you from weakness, then gave you strength, then after strength gave you weakness and grey hair.” (30:54)

The message extends beyond any one faith: human beings pass through seasons of strength and vulnerability. Neither should diminish how we treat one another.

The Koran also calls Muslims to treat elderly parents with gentleness and respect, instructing believers not even to say “uff” to them (17:23). That emphasis on patience, kindness and mercy speaks powerfully to anyone caring for an ageing or vulnerable loved one.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him) also taught that Allah has provided a remedy for illness. For Muslims, trusting Allah does not mean refusing medical care. Faith and healthcare can work alongside one another.

So, if you are concerned about your own memory or that of someone you love, do not simply write the changes off as ageing. Start a conversation with a healthcare professional. Contact Dementia Bermuda for information, support and available services. And if you are a caregiver, remember that asking for help is not failure.

There are things all of us can do: learn the signs of dementia, check on an older neighbour, listen patiently when someone repeats a story, offer practical help to a caregiver, share reliable information and challenge insensitive jokes or language.

In a small island community like ours, we are often connected in ways we may not immediately realise. The person living with dementia may be our neighbour, a former teacher, a church or masjid member, a colleague, a friend or even someone we pass every day.

This World Alzheimer’s Month let it be the impetus that will compel us to make Bermuda a place where dementia is understood rather than whispered about, supported rather than hidden, and met with compassion rather than fear.

Memory may change. Abilities may change. Circumstances may change. But the person remains part of our community.

So, Bermuda, let us learn more, talk openly, look out for one another and make sure that no family has to face dementia alone.

The earlier we know, the more we can do.

Have a blessed week.

As salaam alaikum (peace be unto you).

• Linda Walia Ming is a member of the Bermuda Hijab Dawah Team, a group of Muslim women who reside in Bermuda and have a goal of educating the community about the religion of Islam