Dementia diagnosis ‘intolerable’ without uni team’s help

A COUPLE have revealed that life would have been “intolerable” without the support of an award-winning Newcastle University team which has “transformed” the understanding of a form of dementia.

- SAM VOLPE

This comes as Newcastle University has won praise from the Prime Minister and the highest national honour available in the UK for universities.

The university has been awarded a prestigious Queen Elizabeth Prize for Higher and Further Education.

This is in recognition of work supporting the diagnosis and care for those living with dementia with Lewy bodies - which has been invaluable to 79-year-old Nigel Thomas.

Nigel has the condition and said it had hit his confidence - and had a real impact on wife Heather. However, both paid tribute to the care and support he had received.

Nigel, of Cleadon, South Tyneside, said: “I have lost some confidence in being independent. I now rely on my wife to organise much of my life although I do many of the basic household activities Before diagnosis and during early treatment I was confused, as I couldn’t understand what was happening to me.

“I know that some of my behaviour had changed; for example, I have become obsessive in ensuring I was carrying my wallet, spectacles and phone. I have also become slower in movement and I have lost some height.

“I dread to think what my circumstances would be if we had not met Professor John-Paul Taylor and his team and received comparatively early intervention with a tailored regime of vital medication which is constantly reviewed. Furthermore, I am appreciative of the team’s sensitivity, consideration, referrals and constant academic enquiry”

Over 30 years, the team at Newcastle University - including Prof Taylor - have worked to “redefine” the condition as a distinct form of dementia, which now affects 130,000 people across the UK. For Nigel, while it has impacted many aspects of his life, he has held onto his passions.