Families gathering with loved ones over Christmas are being urged to be on the lookout for symptoms of dementia after the NHS revealed more people have been diagnosed with the disease than ever before.
Health authorities said November figures revealed 499,068 people were diagnosed in England, an increase of 19,416 in a year.
Care Minister Stephen Kinnock said timely diagnosis was “essential” to ensure patients received the care and support they needed as soon as possible.
Common symptoms include forgetfulness, irritability, difficulty following conversations, difficulty finding the right words, and disorientation of time and place.
Dr Jeremy Isaacs, NHS England National Dementia Clinical Director, said:[The disease] Symptoms often develop slowly and may not be obvious in brief interactions, but there is an opportunity to notice the signs as family and friends gather together at Christmas, perhaps for the first time in months. ”
Families are being urged to be on the lookout for symptoms of dementia in their loved ones over Christmas (file photo)
Care Minister Stephen Kinnock (file photo) said timely diagnosis was “essential” to ensure patients received the care and support they needed as soon as possible.
According to Alzheimer’s Research UK, dementia will be the leading cause of death in the UK in 2023, with 75,393 people dying last year, 74,261 in 2022 and 69,178 in 2021. Died.
Jennifer Keene, head of policy at the Alzheimer’s Society, supported efforts to encourage people to check for symptoms, adding: “Christmas should be a happy time for families to come together.”
“But sadly, for some people, it is the first time they notice changes in their loved one that show signs of dementia.”
