Forgetting a loved one's Christmas present 'could be a sign of dementia'

A forgotten Christmas present could be a clue to something more serious, dementia experts say  - This content is subject to copyright.
A forgotten Christmas present could be a clue to something more serious, dementia experts say - This content is subject to copyright.

Forgetting a loved one's Christmas present could be an early sign of dementia, health officials have warned. Families are being urged to look out for signs of Alzheimer’s disease when they see elderly relatives over the festive season.

Prof Alastair Burns, the NHS national clinical director for dementia,said forgetting a present, a loved one’s name or getting confused while cooking Christmas dinner could be a warning of the early signs of dementia.

Charities said their helplines receive a surge in calls in January, after families became aware that that older relatives were struggling.

“Something as simple as forgetting to put the oven on for the Christmas turkey may be a warning that a loved one is experiencing the early stages of dementia,” officials said.

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Confusion in a new environment - such as a hotel or unfamiliar home of a relative could also signal problems they warned.  So could forgetting a present for a niece or nephew, or repeatedly forgetting the names of loved ones, they said.

Prof Burns said: “Dementia is something that 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.

“The important thing is to look for changes in normal behaviour,” he said.

“While it may be tempting to put forgetfulness down to one too many Christmas brandies, it could be a sign of something more serious so I would urge everyone to take a bit of extra time to consider if someone they know may need help.”