Monday, December 23, 2024

The symptoms of dementia families are being urged to look out for this Christmas

Families have been urged to look out for symptoms of dementia as they gather with loved ones at Christmas after the NHS found more people than ever have been diagnosed with the condition.

The health service said November figures revealed 499,068 people in England received a diagnosis – a jump of 19,416 in a year.

Care minister Stephen Kinnock said a timely diagnosis was ‘vital’ to ensure patients could access the care and support they need as early as possible.

Common symptoms include forgetfulness, irritability, struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word and being confused about time and place.

Dr Jeremy Isaacs, NHS England national clinical director for dementia, said: ‘[The disease] often develops slowly and might not be apparent during a brief interaction, but with family and friends gathering at Christmas perhaps for the first time in months, there is an opportunity to spot the signs.’

Families are being urged to look out for symptoms of dementia in family members over Christmas (file photo)

Care minister Stephen Kinnock (file photo) said a timely diagnosis was ¿vital¿ to ensure patients could access the care and support they need as soon as possible

Dementia was the leading cause of death in the UK in 2023 – with 75,393 people dying last year, compared with 74,261 in 2022 and 69,178 in 2021, according to Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Jennifer Keen, head of policy at Alzheimer’s Society, backed the drive to encourage people to check symptoms, adding: ‘Christmas should be a happy time when families get together.

‘But sadly, for some people it will be the first time they notice changes in their loved ones showing signs of dementia.’

What is Alzheimer’s? 

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain, in which build-up of abnormal proteins causes nerve cells to die.

This disrupts the transmitters that carry messages, and causes the brain to shrink. 

More than 5 million people suffer from the disease in the US, where it is the 6th leading cause of death, and more than 1 million Britons have it.

WHAT HAPPENS?

As brain cells die, the functions they provide are lost. 

That includes memory, orientation and the ability to think and reason. 

The progress of the disease is slow and gradual. 

On average, patients live five to seven years after diagnosis, but some may live for ten to 15 years.

EARLY SYMPTOMS:

  • Loss of short-term memory
  • Disorientation
  • Behavioral changes
  • Mood swings
  • Difficulties dealing with money or making a phone call 

LATER SYMPTOMS:

  • Severe memory loss, forgetting close family members, familiar objects or places
  • Becoming anxious and frustrated over inability to make sense of the world, leading to aggressive behavior 
  • Eventually lose ability to walk
  • May have problems eating 
  • The majority will eventually need 24-hour care   

 Source: Alzheimer’s Association

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