Festive parties are ideal time to spot dementia

CHRISTMAS get-togethers provide the ideal opportunity for families to spot whether a relative may be showing the early signs of dementia, experts said yesterday.

Behaviour to watch out for could include forgetting to put the oven on or becoming disorientated in someone else’s home.

Almost 700,000 people in England have dementia but up to a third have not been diagnosed.

Professor Alistair Burns, NHS England’s national clinical director for dementia and older peoples’ mental health, said: ‘Dementia happens slowly, so it may slip by unnoticed in people we see regularly. That’s why the Christmas visit to wider family and friends is an opportunity to spot the early warning signs.

‘Look for changes in behaviour. I’m not a great cook so me not being able to whizz up a Christmas dinner would be no surprise, but when someone who shines in the kitchen is forgetting the basics, that can be a vital clue. While it may be tempting to put forgetfulness down to too many brandies, it could be something serious.’