Welcome, how can we help?
Policy Types
Getting Technical
Home / Critical illness cover / - Dementia
Definition
Dementia having progressed to the extent that continual supervision and the assistance of another person is required. The diagnosis must be supported by evidence of progressive loss of the ability to:
- remember;
- reason; and
- perceive, understand, express and give effect to ideas.
The condition must be irreversible with no reasonable prospect of there ever being any improvement.
What does this mean?
Dementia is a disorder of the mental process and results in loss of memory and impairment of behaviour and recognition. There is no cure and the cause is unknown. Definite diagnosis must be established via accepted standard medical tests and questionnaires.
NEWS
New drug could improve Parkinson's
11 June 2007 15:51:48
The motor functions and cognitive abilities by Parkinson's disease could be combated by a new drug, according to pharmaceutical analysts.
Research presented at the 59th annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology presented the findings of a six-month trial of safinamide.
Participants were divided into randomised, double-blind and placebo controlled categories of administering of the drug, with the results showing a potential breakthrough for fighting the debilitating symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Motor symptoms were found to be markedly improved in the study, while the addition of safinamide to a single dopamine dosage led to a notable change in 'executive function', i.e. a patient's ability to plan, organise and remember details.
Professor Anthony Schapira, chairman of the University Department of Clinical Neuroscience at Royal Free and University College London Medical School, said:
"These study results suggest that safinamide may have an effect on cognitive performance in patients with early Parkinson's disease and has the potential to address a critical unmet medical need."
Though commonly associated with the elderly, between five to ten per cent of Parkinson's disease incidence occurs in people under 40.
Life insurance costs fall
10 July 2007 10:44:11
New research indicates that the average cost of life insurance premiums has dropped in recent months.
A study by Sainsbury's Bank surveyed 38 different customer profiles and found the price of premiums for over 70 per cent of risk profiles fell in the six months leading up to March this year.
However, life cover premiums for people aged 25 and under were found to have risen slightly in the same period.
There was surprising news for smokers, with the news that the average cost of UK life insurance for a smoker fell by two per cent in the period in question.
It is thought that many smokers could see a significant drop in their life insurance premiums if they manage to kick the habit in light of the recent smoking ban.
British women looking to purchase life insurance were also met with a two per cent average price drop for their premiums.
The overriding conclusion from the research was that consumers should shop around for their life cover, with massive price differences between providers.
The 25 per cent of companies with the most expensive premiums charged around 66 per cent more for their life cover than the 25 per cent who offered the best value life cover.
Norwich Union praises government initiative
12 July 2007 12:58:50
Top UK life insurance company Norwich Union has commended government proposals to offer personal finance lessons in schools.
In light of the announcement that a new subject called Economic Well-being and Financial Capacity will be added to the curriculum for all 11 to 16-year-olds, the insurance provider has applauded the move to prevent future generations entering into an insolvency crisis similar to that causing misery for millions of British households.
Elizabeth Boardall, head of post-retirement products, said that the lessons would be vital in raising awareness of the importance of mortgage protection insurance, life cover and critical illness insurance.
"We welcome this latest proposal from the Government which recognises the importance of personal finance education from an early age," she commented.
"Norwich Union is committed to supporting teaching in this area and to this end has been working with the UK's leading financial education charity PFEG (Personal Finance Education Group) since 2004, with the aim of ensuring all young people leave school equipped with the skills and knowledge to participate fully in society."
Ms Boardall continued: "Few people can rely solely on a state pension and with many private pensions dwindling in real terms, a significant number are finding it necessary to work beyond the age of 65.
"Consequently we can no longer adopt a one-size-fits-all approach to personal finances and it is vital that new retirement solutions are developed to adapt to individuals' needs."
11 June 2007 15:51:48
The motor functions and cognitive abilities by Parkinson's disease could be combated by a new drug, according to pharmaceutical analysts.
Research presented at the 59th annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology presented the findings of a six-month trial of safinamide.
Participants were divided into randomised, double-blind and placebo controlled categories of administering of the drug, with the results showing a potential breakthrough for fighting the debilitating symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Motor symptoms were found to be markedly improved in the study, while the addition of safinamide to a single dopamine dosage led to a notable change in 'executive function', i.e. a patient's ability to plan, organise and remember details.
Professor Anthony Schapira, chairman of the University Department of Clinical Neuroscience at Royal Free and University College London Medical School, said:
"These study results suggest that safinamide may have an effect on cognitive performance in patients with early Parkinson's disease and has the potential to address a critical unmet medical need."
Though commonly associated with the elderly, between five to ten per cent of Parkinson's disease incidence occurs in people under 40.
10 July 2007 10:44:11
New research indicates that the average cost of life insurance premiums has dropped in recent months.
A study by Sainsbury's Bank surveyed 38 different customer profiles and found the price of premiums for over 70 per cent of risk profiles fell in the six months leading up to March this year.
However, life cover premiums for people aged 25 and under were found to have risen slightly in the same period.
There was surprising news for smokers, with the news that the average cost of UK life insurance for a smoker fell by two per cent in the period in question.
It is thought that many smokers could see a significant drop in their life insurance premiums if they manage to kick the habit in light of the recent smoking ban.
British women looking to purchase life insurance were also met with a two per cent average price drop for their premiums.
The overriding conclusion from the research was that consumers should shop around for their life cover, with massive price differences between providers.
The 25 per cent of companies with the most expensive premiums charged around 66 per cent more for their life cover than the 25 per cent who offered the best value life cover.
12 July 2007 12:58:50
Top UK life insurance company Norwich Union has commended government proposals to offer personal finance lessons in schools.
In light of the announcement that a new subject called Economic Well-being and Financial Capacity will be added to the curriculum for all 11 to 16-year-olds, the insurance provider has applauded the move to prevent future generations entering into an insolvency crisis similar to that causing misery for millions of British households.
Elizabeth Boardall, head of post-retirement products, said that the lessons would be vital in raising awareness of the importance of mortgage protection insurance, life cover and critical illness insurance.
"We welcome this latest proposal from the Government which recognises the importance of personal finance education from an early age," she commented.
"Norwich Union is committed to supporting teaching in this area and to this end has been working with the UK's leading financial education charity PFEG (Personal Finance Education Group) since 2004, with the aim of ensuring all young people leave school equipped with the skills and knowledge to participate fully in society."
Ms Boardall continued: "Few people can rely solely on a state pension and with many private pensions dwindling in real terms, a significant number are finding it necessary to work beyond the age of 65.
"Consequently we can no longer adopt a one-size-fits-all approach to personal finances and it is vital that new retirement solutions are developed to adapt to individuals' needs."