'Work hard mum was in disbelief at her young-onset diagnosis'

One of Coronation Street's latest story lines has sparked important discussions about young-onset dementia.

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In recent episodes of the popular British TV soap, Debbie Webster, portrayed by Sue Devaney, visits a private doctor to address her growing memory problems, which ultimately leads to her diagnosis of young-onset dementia.

Dementia is often thought to primarily affect older individuals, but according to Dementia UK, more than 70,800 people are estimated to be living with young-onset dementia in the UK.

Corrie's new plot line highlights the profound impact it has not only on the diagnosed individual, but also on their loved ones.

Camilla Foster, of the PA news agency, spoke with Will Dean, now 25, who understands the effects of this firsthand. His mother, Ronnie, was diagnosed with young-onset dementia at just 49, when he was only 16. He has opened up about his own experience of this and why he is happy that shows like Coronation Street are shedding a light on this important topic.

WHAT WAS YOUR MUM'S REACTION TO THE DIAGNOSIS?

Will describes his mum Ronnie as a “work hard and mum hard” type of person, who was a driven senior police officer in North Wales Police that thrived in leadership roles, who also made sure she found time for her kids. However, when she first started experiencing cognitive issues, she kept it a secret from the whole family.

“She kept it a secret and went to the GP in 2015, three different times, and each time they said it’s depression or the menopause - but she'd been depressed before so she knew this was different,” says Will. “After lots of persistence, she was finally diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, initially through a phone call.