We’re all living longer. That means we’re all facing a higher risk of one day developing dementia. It may be you. Or it may be someone in your family.

Dementia is caused by diseases of the brain. Symptoms can include memory loss, difficulties with thinking, reasoning or language, and sometimes changes in mood or behaviour. But dementia affects everyone differently. Some things to look out for are:

• struggling to remember recent events or people’s names
• finding it hard to follow conversations or TV programmes
• repeating yourself or losing the thread of what you’re saying
• difficulty concentrating, thinking things through or following instructions
• feeling confused even when in a well-known place
• becoming unusually anxious, depressed or agitated.

If you’re worried that you, or someone close to you, may have dementia, it’s important to talk about it.

The Alzheimer’s Society in Southwark have a number of trained advisors who can help explain the effects of alzheimer’s and support available for you. The Southwark office can be contacted at

Tel: 020 7735 5850