Festive call for early detection of dementia

The Alzheimer’s Society said Christmas was often the only time families saw each other all year.

The charity has called for people to look out for symptoms in relatives.

Initial signs of the condition, which is caused by diseases of the brain, may include short-term memory loss that affects every day life, problems with thinking or reasoning, or unexplained anxiety, anger or depression.

It is also advising anyone concerned that they may have dementia to visit their GP to get a proper diagnosis. An Alzheimer’s Society spokeswoman said that one in three people over 65 would develop dementia.