D - The Brain Charity

The Brain Charity

Dementia

Name	Dementia
Related to/Also known as
Symptoms of Dementia	Dementia is a term used to describe various different brain disorders, that have in common a loss of brain function that is usually progressive and eventually severe. The most common type of dementia is Alzheimer's Disease. Symptoms of dementia include loss of memory, confusion and problems with speech. • The British Deaf Association has information in BSL about Dementia.
Types	There are over 100 different types of dementia. In addition to Alzheimer's Disease, Vascular Dementia, and Dementia With Lewy Bodies are the most common. For more information see the Alzheimer's Society website
Useful national contacts	Legal Advice through The Brain Charity Dementia UK and Young dementia uk have merged www.dementiauk.org/dementiauk-and-youngdementiauk Admiral Nurses www.dementiauk.org/what-we-do/admiral-nurses Alzheimer's Society (covers England, Wales, N. Ireland) www.alzheimers.org.uk Helpline: 0845 300 0336 Alzheimer's Society: Carer Information and Support Programme (CrISP) https://tinyurl.com/y89h96xa Alzheimer Scotland (covers Scotland) www.alzscot.org Helpline: 0808 808 3000 Huntingdon's Disease Association www.hda.org.uk Tel. 0151 331 5444 Parkinson's UK www.parkinsons.org.uk Tel: 0808 800 0303 Stroke Association www.stroke.org.uk Tel. 0303 3033 100
Children & young people	Explaining dementia to children and young people (Alzheimer's Society) https://tinyurl.com/y4bcceg4 Resources for Children and Young People (Dementia UK) www.dementiauk.org/children-and-young-people
Online resources	• Effect of coronavirus on people living with dementia (The Brain Charity) Vaccines for coronavirus (COVID-19) (Alzheimer's Socity) www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/coronavirus/vaccine-covid-19 Coronavirus: Questions and answers (Dementia UK) www.dementiauk.org/get-support/coronavirus-covid-19/questions-and-answers Coronavirus: Support for a person with dementia living alone (Alzheimer's Society) www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/coronavirus-support-person-dementia-living-alone#content-start Coronavirus: Information for people affected by dementia (Alzheimer's Society) Coronavirus: Information for people affected by dementia Should a person with dementia wear a face mask for coronavirus? (Alzheimer's Society) www.alzheimers.org.uk/blog/should-person-dementia-wear-face-mask-coronavirus Vaccines for coronavirus (COVID-19) (Alzheimer's Socity) www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/coronavirus/vaccine-covid-19 Alzheimer's disease (NHS website) Alzheimer's Society - The Dementia Guide (YouTube) http://youtu.be/RLBuygIcttU Making your home dementia friendly (Alzheimer's Society) https://tinyurl.com/yajevnxq Dementia within African Carribean communities (Dementia UK) www.dementiauk.org/dementia-within-african-caribbean-communities Your unforgettable friend: a dementia-friendly activity booklet brought to you by Puzzler and The People’s Friend Living with a condition (The Brain Charity)
News and events
Our resources	The library at The Brain Charity has a range of resources on Dementia and on a wide range of disability-related issues. Visit our library to read Can I tell you about dementia? A guide for families, friends and carers by J. Welton and J. Telford. Or have a look in your local library for this book.

Devic's Disease

Name	Devic's Disease
	See Neuromyelitis Optica (N.M.O.)

Down's Syndrome

Name	Down's Syndrome
Related to/Also known as	Down Syndrome
Symptoms of Down's Syndrome	"Down's syndrome, also known as Down syndrome, is a genetic condition that typically causes some level of learning disability and characteristic physical features." Source: NHS Choices https://tinyurl.com/cy8q7ad
Useful national contacts	Down's Syndrome Association Helpline: 0333 1212 300 www.downs-syndrome.org.uk Find your local support group: https://tinyurl.com/yahn8r42 Down's Syndrome Scotland Phone: 0131 442 8840 www.dsscotland.org.uk Down's Heart Group Phone: 0300 102 1644 www.dhg.org.uk Mencap charity for people with a learning disability Helpline 0808 808 1111 www.mencap.org.uk Find your local support group: www.mencap.org.uk/search/groups
Children & young people	New Parent Pack (Down's Syndrome Association) https://tinyurl.com/y8t2a4bn
News and events	Down's Syndrome: Awareness Week 2021 is 15th-21st March www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/about/campaigns/awareness-week-2021
Online resources	Easy-Read guide to Coronavirus from Mencap link: Easy-Read info on Covid-19 vaccination (Gov.uk) Intellectual and Developmental Disability COVID-19 Vaccination Position Statement (Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group U.S.A. ) www.dsmig-usa.org/resources/Documents/DSMIG%20COVID_Vaccine_Position_Statement_010521.pdf Coronavirus (COVID-19) (Down's Syndrome Association) www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/coronavirus-covid-19 COVID-19: Supporting autistic people and people with learning disabilities (Social Care Institute for Excellence) Down's syndrome (NHS Choices) https://tinyurl.com/cy8q7ad Down syndrome (Contact, charity for families with disabled children) https://tinyurl.com/v8jn7ou Why the abortion law should be changed to prevent the terminations of foetuses with non-fatal disabilities after the 24th week (BBC, February 2020) https://tinyurl.com/ur6krnp Improving our Support for People from Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority Backgrounds (Down's Syndrome Association) www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/news/improving-our-support-for-people-from-black-asian-and-ethnic-minority-backgrounds Living with a condition (The Brain Charity)
Our resources	The library at the Brain Charity has a range of resources on Down's Syndrome and on a wide range of disability related issues. This includes information on Down's and epilepsy, and on Down's and dementia.

Dysautonomia

Name	Dysautonomia
Related to/Also known as	Riley-Day syndrome HSAN Type III
Symptoms of Dysautonomia	"Dysautonomia is an umbrella term used to describe several different medical conditions that cause a malfunction of the Autonomic Nervous System. The Autonomic Nervous System controls the "automatic" functions of the body that we do not consciously think about, such as heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, dilation and constriction of the pupils of the eye, kidney function, and temperature control. "Dysautonomia can also occur secondary to other medical conditions, such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, celiac [coeliac], Sjogren's syndrome, lupus, and Parkinson's." Source: Dysautonomia International www.dysautonomiainternational.org
Types	Includes: Diabetic Autonomic Neuropathy (DAN) Familial dysautonomia Generalized dysautonomia Multiple System Atrophy Postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS)
Useful national contacts	Jnetics (formally Jewish Genetic Disorders UK) www.jnetics.org Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. UK Potsies www.ukpotsies.org.uk Dysautonomia International www.dysautonomiainternational.org
Childen & young people	Living a Life With Dysautonomia in Children (Dysautonomia POTS Syndrome website) https://tinyurl.com/y3ua6jps Brain injury - Dysautonomia (Kids Health Info, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne) https://tinyurl.com/y4rrvdul
News and events	"Camilla sees benefits of medical alert dogs on charity visit" (Wolverhampton Express and Star, February 20, 2019) https://tinyurl.com/y5h6su29
Online resources	Coronavirus & Dysautonomia (Dysautonomia International) www.dysautonomiainternational.org/page.php?ID=227 Coronavirus and diabetes (Diabetes UK) www.diabetes.org.uk/about_us/news/coronavirus?utm_source=google%2C%20covid-19&utm_medium=Banner&utm_campaign=banner_covid-19&utm_content=banner_link Familial Dysautonomia (Contact, charity for familiies with disabled children) https://tinyurl.com/sgy9sbh Autonomic Neuropathy (Diabetes.co.uk) http://tinyurl.com/y4hy3g4k Coronavirus vaccines and diabetes (Diabetes UK) www.diabetes.org.uk/about_us/news/coronavirus-vaccines Postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) (NHS website) https://tinyurl.com/ycxju2b9 Dysautonomia Information Page (U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) http://tinyurl.com/y499zwts Dysautonomia, Familial (U.S. National Organization for Rare Disorders) http://tinyurl.com/yyuajgvm Living with a condition (The Brain Charity)
Our resources	The library at the Brain Charity has a range of resources on Dysautonomia and on a wide range of disability-related issues.

Dyscalculia

Name	Dyscalculia
Related to/Also known as	Dyslexia ADHD Mathematics Learning Difficulty
Symptoms of Dyscalculia	"Dyscalculia is a specific learning difference, which affects the ability to acquire arithmetical skills and an intuitive grasp of numbers" Source: Loughborough University https://tinyurl.com/y9rrv6cb "Developmental Dyscalculia (DD) is a specific learning disorder that is characterised by impairments in learning basic arithmetic facts, processing numerical magnitude and performing accurate and fluent calculations. these difficulties must be quantifiably below what is expected for an individual’s chronological age, and [is not] caused by poor educational or daily activities or by intellectual impairments" Source: British Dyslexia Association https://tinyurl.com/y8qobbjo
Types	Developmental Dyscalculia: a specific learning disability (SpLD) Acalculia: as a result of brain injury or stroke, a person may no longer be able to do even basic maths
Useful national contacts	The British Dyslexia Association Tel. 0333 405 4567. Opening times: 10 a.m. – 12.30 and 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Mondays to Fridays. Closed Wednesday afternoons www.bdadyslexia.org.uk Scope Helpline: 0808 800 3333 www.scope.org.uk Find your local support services: www.scope.org.uk/Support/services-directory
Children & young people	What is Dyscalculia? Why Some Kids Struggle with Maths While Doing Well at Other Subjects? (Centre for Neuroscience in Education) https://tinyurl.com/yzsm27am
Online resources	The Dyscalculia Information Centre www.dyscalculia.me.uk What is Dyscalculia? (East Midlands Dyslexia Association) https://tinyurl.com/yaz566nn Dyscalculia (Contact, charity for families with disabled children) https://tinyurl.com/tllvrqj What is Dyscalculia? (Dyslexia Association) https://tinyurl.com/yyqojnlf Dyscalculia (Judy Hornigold) http://judyhornigold.co.uk/dyscalculia.html Living with a condition (The Brain Charity)
News and events
Our resources	The library at the Brain Charity has a wide range of resources on disability-related issues.

Dyslexia

Name	Dyslexia
Related to/Also known as
Symptoms of Dyslexia	Dyslexia is a specific kind of learning difficulty, where a child of normal intelligence has persistent and significant problems with reading, writing and spelling, and sometimes with arithmetic and musical notation.
Types
Useful national contacts	The British Dyslexia Association Tel. 0333 405 4567. Opening times: 10 a.m. – 12.30 and 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Mondays to Fridays. Closed Wednesday afternoons www.bdadyslexia.org.uk Dyslexia Action Tel. 01784 222300 www.dyslexiaaction.org.uk Dyslexia Foundation Tel. 0151 709 0545 https://dyslexiafoundation.org Dyslexia-SplD Trust www.thedyslexia-spldtrust.org.uk
Children & young people	My child's education (British Dyslexia Association) https://tinyurl.com/y6nq89zf
Online resources	Dyslexia (Contact, charity for families with disabled children) https://tinyurl.com/vtkzj Dyslexia - Symptoms (NHS website) https://tinyurl.com/zwv8smq Dyslexia Guide (Hampstead & Frognal Tutors Ltd) with resources including helpful strategies, and tests, plus details of apps and the latest technology to help you to better manage reading and writing https://tinyurl.com/y8fzg7je How to support a pupil with dyslexia (Engage Education) https://tinyurl.com/qv8zk52 Living with a condition (The Brain Charity)
News and events
Our resources	The library at The Brain Charity has a range of resources on Dyslexia and on a wide range of disability-related issues. Visit our library to read Can I tell you about Dyslexia? A guide for friends, family and professionals by Alan M. Hultquist. Or look for this book in your local library.

Dysphasia

Name	Dysphasia
	see Aphasia

Dyspraxia

Name	Dyspraxia
Related to/Also known as	Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (D.C.D.) Motor Learning Difficulties Perceptuo-Motor Dysfunction Apraxia
Symptoms of Dyspraxia	Dyspraxia is a developmental disorder of organisation and planning of physical movement. Developmental dyspraxia (see below) affects co-ordination, spatial awareness, perception, language and short-term memory.
Types	Developmental dyspraxia is when someone is born with dyspraxia. Acquired dyspraxia can be caused by a stroke or head injury.
Useful national contacts	The Dyspraxia Foundation Tel. 01462 454986, 10am-1pm, Mon-Friday www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk
Children & young people	Blossom's story - The Brain Changer Arts Project has her 'dancing with joy' Dyspraxia in children (Dyspraxia Foundation) https://tinyurl.com/yxnyl2yp Developmental co-ordination disorder in children ('Patient' website) https://tinyurl.com/yyp9w8dd Children with verbal dyspraxia (The Communication Trust) https://tinyurl.com/y62m5ovb
Online resources	link: Easy-Read info on Covid-19 vaccination (Gov.uk) Neurodiversity and Co-occurring differences: Dyspraxia (DCD) (British Dyslexia Associarton) https://tinyurl.com/yxnczlp2 Dyspraxia (developmental co-ordination disorder) in adults (NHS website) https://tinyurl.com/y43dq8c3 Living with a condition (The Brain Charity)
News and events	'How Doctor Who tackles dyspraxia in series 11' (Radio Times, October 2018) https://tinyurl.com/ybmgdcvz
Our resources	The Brain Changer Arts Project (The Brain Charity) The library at The Brain Charity has a range of resources on Dyspraxia and on a wide range of disability-related issues. Visit our library to read Can I tell you about Dyspraxia? A guide for friends, family and professionals, by Maureen Boon. Or have a look in your local library for this book.

Dystonia

Name	Dystonia
Related to/Also known as
Symptoms of Dystonia	Dystonia is a disorder which causes muscles in the body to contract and spasm involuntarily. Spasms may affect one part of the body or many parts simultaneously and can be very painful.
Types	The Dystonias can be defined in terms of which body parts are involved. Focal - affects one part Segmental - 2 or more adjacent body parts Multifocal - 2 or more non-adjacent parts Generalised Primary focal dystonia are the most common including: Cervical dystonia (or spasmodic torticollis) affects the neck muscles. Blepharospasm affects the muscles of the eyelids. Hand dystonia/writer's cramp affects the hand and finger muscles Laryngeal dystonia (or spasmodic dysphonia) affects the vocal chords. Oromandibular dystonia affects the muscles in the jaw, mouth and tongue.
Useful national contacts	Dystonia UK www.dystonia.org.uk 89 Albert Embankment London SE1 7TP This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 020 7793 3651 Find your local support group https://www.dystonia.org.uk/your-local-support-group The Liverpool group meets at The Brain Charity https://www.dystonia.org.uk/liverpool-merseyside
Children & young people
Online resources	Covid-19 Vaccinations (Dystonia UK www.dystonia.org.uk/news/covid-19-vaccinations Coronavirus and Dystonia (Dystonia UK) https://www.dystonia.org.uk/News/coronavirus-and-dystonia Dystonia (NHS website) www.nhs.uk/conditions/dystonia Living with a condition (The Brain Charity)
News and events	Sign Joanne's petition: Dystonia needs to be recognised by all medical professions & occupational therapists https://tinyurl.com/y9y6d6pv
Our resources	The library at The Brain Charity has a range of resources on Dystonia and on a wide range of disability-related issues. This includes the book for children and young people Medikidz Explain Dystonia Management.