New campaign launched in Wales: Are you Worried about your Memory?

Called Worried About Your Memory?, the campaign will prompt and help people to consider if their forgetfulness, or that of a friend or relative, is due to just poor memory or the beginning of a medical problem and encourage them to seek medical advice. 
 
Currently 37,000 people in Wales live with dementia and by 2021 over 48,000 will have the condition. One in three people over the age of 65 will die with it. 
 
However, up to two thirds of people with dementia never receive a diagnosis because they either don't recognise the symptoms or report them to their GP.  And for those who do, it takes an average of nearly three years for a diagnosis from first noticing symptoms, denying people with dementia early and appropriate care and support.
 
Ian Thomas, Director of Alzheimer's Society in Wales, says: 

Dementia is one of the greatest health challenges confronting our society as we face an ageing population.  Yet there is an acute lack of awareness and understanding of dementia amongst the public, including those who are affected by it, as well as those in health and community services.
 
By encouraging people who are worried about their memory problems to seek medical advice sooner than they might have done, we hope more people with dementia can get important practical, emotional and medical care early on, giving them a greater chance to live life as well and as fully as possible. 

Dr Tony Bayer, Director of the Cardiff Memory Team at Llandough Hospital, says:

I fully support Alzheimer's Society's 'Worried about your Memory?' campaign. Identifying the symptoms of dementia early is crucial in order to trigger prompt and appropriate health and social care support. Being better informed should encourage people to visit their doctors sooner, meaning a speedier diagnosis, and in turn, a better quality of life for people with dementia and their families.

Every GP in Wales will also be given a diagnostic tool in the form of a CD Rom to help inform and support their diagnosis decisions and to help support patients and their families following a positive diagnosis.  

According to a recent study by the National Audit Office, only 30 per cent of GP's feel that they have enough basic information and training to diagnose and manage dementia.  
 
Although memory problems are common, and factors such as age, tiredness, stress, depression and some physical illnesses can affect it, Alzheimer's Society is encouraging people to seek advice and help if the following occur:

• It's a struggle to remember recent events, although it's easy to recall things that happened in the past
• It's hard to follow conversations or programmes on TV
• Regularly forgetting the names of friends or everyday objects
• Inability to recall things heard, seen or read
• Difficulty in making decisions
• Repeat themselves in conversation or lose the thread of what they are saying
• Have problems thinking and reasoning
• Feel anxious and depressed or angry about their forgetfulness
• Find that other people start to comment on their forgetfulness.

Anyone concerned about their memory, or that of a friend of relative, should speak to their GP or contact Alzheimer's Society's Dementia Helpline - 0845 300 0336 (8.30am-6.30pm, Monday to Friday) which is staffed by trained advisers.

The Worried About Your Memory? campaign has been made possible in Wales thanks to support from Eisai Ltd, Novartis Ltd, Pfizer Ltd and Shire Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

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