- For confidential advice, call Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Support Line on 0333 150 3456
- Alzheimer’s Society’s symptoms checker can help spot the signs of dementia
The NHS is urging people to look out for the signs of dementia in their elderly relatives over Christmas.
Health officials say festive get-togethers present an ideal opportunity to spot early symptoms before a loved one receives a formal diagnosis.
Opening gifts, eating Christmas dinner and reminiscing about the past may reveal subtle changes in memory, behaviour or mood in people living with the condition.
The plea comes as the Daily Mail and Alzheimer’s Society have partnered in a drive to beat dementia, which claims 76,000 lives each year and is the UK’s biggest killer.
The Defeating Dementia campaign aims to raise awareness of the disease, in an effort to increase early diagnosis, boost research and improve care. The NHS aims to identify at least two in three people living with dementia, but rates collapsed during the Covid pandemic and have never recovered.
Dr Jeremy Isaacs, clinical director for dementia at NHS England, said: ‘Not being able to follow a much-loved family recipe or repeating stories could be a sign.
‘Other symptoms include difficultly following and responding to conversations, being confused about time and place, and emotional changes like irritability.’
NHS England said it is continuing a wider commitment to diagnose as many of those living with dementia as possible. Latest figures show 512,525 people have received a formal diagnosis, up from 499,068 a year ago.
The NHS is working with care providers on pilot projects to diagnose people in care homes. It is also working with universities and charities to develop quicker and more effective interventions for diagnosis and support.
Dr Tim Beanland, from the Alzheimer’s Society, said: ‘Spending time together at Christmas often brings into focus changes that can come with dementia.
‘Subtle shifts in behaviour or abilities may be more noticeable during these moments and, for some families, can be the first time they recognise signs of dementia.’
