Advice for supporting people with young-onset dementia after Pauline Quirke’s diagnosis   

Following the announcement today of Pauline Quirke’s dementia diagnosis, Alzheimer’s Society dementia expert Simon Wheeler offers advice on how to spot the signs of young-onset dementia and how to support those living with the condition. 

This also follows the ongoing storyline in EastEnders, where character Nigel Bates, played by actor Paul Bradley, revealed his diagnosis of young-onset dementia earlier this month.

What is young-onset dementia?

Dementia is a group of symptoms caused by different diseases that damage the brain. These symptoms get worse over time and can include memory, problem-solving, language and behaviour.

One in three people born in the UK today will go onto develop dementia in their lifetime.

When a person develops dementia before the age of 65, this is known as ‘young-onset dementia’. 

Over 70,800 people in the UK are living with young-onset dementia.

What are the signs of young-onset dementia?

Many younger people with dementia experience memory loss as an early symptom. However, they are more likely to develop symptoms of dementia, such as changes in behaviour, personality, language, or vision, sooner. 

People can also have problems with movement, walking, co-ordination or balance.

Symptoms in younger people are sometimes put down to other factors like stress, depression, difficulties with relationships or work, or the menopause. 

We encourage anyone worried about dementia symptoms in themselves or a loved one to speak to their GP. You can also use our dementia symptoms checklist. 

I’ve noticed the signs of dementia in someone, how can I talk to them about it?

This will differ from person to person.  Some people may be aware that something is wrong, whereas others may not be. 

The way the person responds will depend very much on their personality, so it is useful to think about what you know about the person to try to find a suitable way to broach the conversation.

It often helps to mention signs that you have noticed and talk about speaking to the GP to investigate things, rather than talking specifically about dementia.  

There are many conditions which can cause similar symptoms to dementia, including vitamin deficiencies, thyroid problems, urinary tract infections, and even things like stress, anxiety and lack of sleep.  

Mentioning those things could be more helpful than talking only about dementia, which may cause unnecessary distress. 

What can you do if someone has dementia but is in denial?

If a person is experiencing denial or lack of insight into their dementia diagnosis and symptoms, then this can make putting care in place quite challenging.  

Once again, it is helpful to think about what you know about the person and what might motivate them to accept different types of help.  

It can also be useful to think about past times that the person has been persuaded, and adapt that same approach to accepting help.

There may also be ways to provide help without needing to mention the person’s condition at all.  

For example, there may be technology in the home that could make things easier for the person such as electronic medication boxes, adapted telephones or remote controls, or even just putting signs on kitchen drawers if the person is having trouble remembering where things are.

It can also be helpful to suggest trial periods for support. For example, ordering online shopping a couple of times to see if the person finds this easier than going to the shops, or having a carer come in for a quick visit once a week and then building up from there.