How to reduce your RISK...

Here are things you can do to reduce your chances of developing the condition:

Leading a healthy lifestyle is key, and that includes being physically active for at least 30 minutes, five times a week. Choose something you enjoy, like an exercise or dance class, swimming or a brisk walk, to raise your heart rate a bit.

Challenge your brain continually, whether it’s by doing puzzles and crosswords or learning something new, like a language. A good social life could also help ward off dementia.

Give up smoking and don’t drink too much alcohol – 14 units per week for both men and women is the recommended maximum.

Keep your weight down balanced diet with lots of fish, fruit and veg, with litt red meat, salt, sugar or saturated fat.

Finally, take advantage of all the health checks available that can help detect problems like high blood pressure, raised blood sugar levels and too much cholesterol that could cause complications in later life. LloydsPharmacy offer many of them for free.

as it makes the brain more sluggish – or even a vitamin B12 deficiency, which has similar symptoms to dementia. And a stroke or recent head injury may cause forgetfulness. So it’s always best to see your GP to find the cause and get treatment, if necessary.

WHAT DO PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA STRUGGLE WITH?

NORMALLY we do things automatically. We get up, have a coffee, shower, get dressed and go to work. But life’s not that simple for someone with dementia, because they often can’t recall what they have to do and when. Typically, they may have difficulty recalling: The order in which to do things, such as how to get dressed; What’s already been done, so they’ll do things two or three times; What they have to do next, such as switch off the gas when they’ve used it, or have a bath; How to do the simplest of tasks; What certain objects do; What certain noises are for – that the doorbell means a visitor.

WHAT CAN I DO?

REMEMBER to respect their independence – let them do as much as possible on their own, but give them a helping hand by laying out clothes every morning and packing away any that aren’t needed. The same goes for the bathroom and kitchen. If their behaviour is strange, work out if there’s a reason for it. If they wander, are they bored? If they take their clothes off, are they hot? Take advantage of the specialist products you can now buy from Lloyds Pharmacy such as the Ulla Drinking Reminder (£19.99), which attaches to a water glass and flashes to prompt people to drink.

Finally, there are a number of websites, including Unforgettable.org, which are full of helpful advice.