Consultus Care News

The Government has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the early signs of dementia. Families particularly are being urged to look out for the warning signs of dementia when they visit elderly relatives this Christmas.

More than 800,000 people in the UK have dementia - and many are never diagnosed. There is no cure, but with the right treatment, the symptoms can be slowed down.

Dementia is not a single illness but a group of symptoms caused by damage to the brain. The symptoms include:

• Memory loss, such as remembering past events much more easily than recent ones
• Problems thinking or reasoning, or finding it hard to follow conversations or TV programmes
• Feeling anxious, depressed or angry about memory loss, or feeling confused, even when in a familiar environment

"Getting a timely diagnosis is vital," said Professor Alistair Burns, the national clinical director for dementia. "Knowing about their condition helps people gain control, and allows them and their families to seek the support and services they need."