Following on from the first series of Vicky McClure's Our Dementia Choir, the Nottingham actress has continued her stellar work to raise awareness and funds for battling the disease which impacts one in six people over 80. However, an increasing number of younger people are also developing dementia, which can manifest itself differently in the non-elderly.
The BBC documentary re-introduces familiar faces from the first series, including Mick Bonser, who was diagnosed with dementia in 2018 at just 51 years old.
"People will notice a massive change in Mick," McClure said and added that the follow-up will be "quite difficult to watch for some people". Mike is one very visible case amongst tens of thousands every year, which sees those previously classed as non high-risk, diagnosed.
Read more: Touching family reason Vicky McClure founded Our Dementia Choir
Speaking to the Radio Times on the choir's aim, Vicky spoke on the increasing number of younger patients being treated for dementia.
"People are being diagnosed so much younger because of lifestyle or simply because people are more aware and get an early diagnosis – although it's very hard to diagnose and often people are told they are depressed. The fact is that dementia is the UK's biggest killer. That's not bulls**t. That's a fact. And do you know why? There's no cure. It's almost a forgotten disease."
Early onset signs of dementia
The NHS describes the following as early signs you may be develop dementia:
- memory loss
- difficulty concentrating
- finding it hard to carry out familiar daily tasks, such as getting confused over the correct change when shopping
- struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word
- being confused about time and place
- mood changes
Trouble with depth perception, withdrawing from social situations and losing track of time are also commons signs.
It is worth noting, that dementia is not a natural part of aging and should be addressed immediately by your healthcare provider. Early symptoms are often mild, but will get gradually worse over time.
Mr Bonser from Our Dementia Choir was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in January 2018 after two serious seizures. A result of this was the inability to read a 24-hour clock.
This falls under the classic dementia symptoms of finding it difficult to understand basic problem solving and visual concepts.
You can begin suffering from dementia as early as your late 20s, so there is never a time not to take memory loss or confusion less than seriously.
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