Families with dementia are being urged to pay close attention this Christmas

Health
By Liam

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Published: | Updated:

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

The health service said November figures showed 499,068 people in England were diagnosed – an increase of 19,416 in a year.

Care Minister Stephen Kinnock said timely diagnosis is “vital” to ensure patients can access the care and support they need as early as possible.

Common symptoms include forgetfulness, irritability, difficulty following a conversation or finding the right word, and confusion about time and place.

Dr. Jeremy Isaacs, NHS England’s national clinical director for dementia, said: ‘(The disease) often develops slowly and may not be apparent during a brief interaction, but as family and friends gather at Christmas, perhaps for the first time in months, is there any chance of recognizing the signs.’

Families are urged to watch for symptoms of dementia in relatives over Christmas (file photo)

Care Minister Stephen Kinnock (file photo) said timely diagnosis is 'vital' to ensure patients can access the care and support they need as quickly as possible

Care Minister Stephen Kinnock (file photo) said timely diagnosis is ‘vital’ to ensure patients get access to the care and support they need as quickly as possible

According to Alzheimer’s Research UK, dementia was the leading cause of death in Britain in 2023 – 75,393 people died last year, compared to 74,261 in 2022 and 69,178 in 2021.

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

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

What is Alzheimer’s disease?

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

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

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

WHAT IS HAPPENING?

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

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

The progression of the disease is slow and gradual.

On average, patients live five to seven years after diagnosis, but some can live another ten to fifteen years.

EARLY SYMPTOMS:

  • Loss of short-term memory
  • Disorientation
  • Behavioral changes
  • Mood swings
  • Problems handling money or making a phone call

LATER SYMPTOMS:

  • Severe memory loss, forgetting close relatives, familiar objects or places
  • Becoming anxious and frustrated about the inability to understand the world, leading to aggressive behavior
  • Eventually you lose the ability to walk
  • May have problems eating
  • The majority will ultimately require 24-hour care

Source: Alzheimer’s Association

You might also like More from author