I am nonetheless the individual I used to be after analysis at 49

Dementia used to be no longer one thing Peter Alexander anticipated to be recognized with in his past due 40s.

It intended leaving his process and adapting to a brand new way of living.

Now, elderly 56, Peter is enthusiastic about addressing the stigma across the situation regularly related to aged other people.

“I would possibly no longer at all times be capable of specific it in the similar approach, however I am nonetheless the similar individual I used to be, inside of I am nonetheless Peter,” he instructed BBC Information NI.

Peter used to be 49 when he made an appointment with a neurologist and used to be despatched for a scan.

“I used to be beginning to battle to satisfy time limits (at paintings), which had by no means been an issue ahead of, and right through conferences, I would not be capable of recall to mind a phrase when talking,” stated Peter, who’s at first from England however has lived in Northern Eire along with his spouse, Jill, for a number of years.

“I take into account the date very obviously, it used to be 14 January 2018 when the effects got here again and the physician stated: ‘Peter, I’ve recognized you with having Frontotemporal dementia’.

“I used to be mainly instructed that it used to be not secure for me to paintings as a result of I’ve lowered judgment and I used to be dropping my filter out, so it used to be so much to evolve to.”

Frontotemporal dementia is an unusual form of dementia that reasons issues of behaviour and language.

“Other people assume when you’ve got dementia it is just about forgetting issues however it is extra advanced, it might manifest in several techniques.

“I do not need to be handled another way, it is crucial that individuals in fact see the individual, see past the situation.

“Unfortunately for many of us, the analysis can take an terrible very long time and that places a huge quantity of drive at the circle of relatives unit.”

Dementia is a syndrome (a bunch of similar signs) related to an ongoing decline of mind functioning.

Reminiscence loss is without doubt one of the maximum not unusual signs, specifically the battle to keep in mind fresh occasions.

Others can come with adjustments to behavior, temper and persona, turning into misplaced in acquainted puts, or being not able to seek out the appropriate phrase in a dialog.

It may well achieve the purpose the place other people have no idea after they want to devour or drink.

Greater than 22,000 persons are dwelling with dementia in Northern Eire, in line with the Alzheimer’s Society.

The selection of other people dwelling with dementia in Northern Eire is predicted to just about triple by way of 2051 to 60,000. The Southern Consider is predicted to have the easiest selection of other people dwelling with the situation by way of 2032.

Whilst dementia is regularly noticed as a illness of previous age, about 5% of other people with dementia are classed as having young-onset dementia.

Other people whose signs began after they had been underneath the age of 65 are regularly referred to as having young-onset dementia.

The Alzheimer’s Society estimates that there are greater than 70,000 other people in the United Kingdom dwelling with young-onset dementia.

In fresh months, Peter has teamed up with people in Northern Eire dwelling with dementia to make a movie about their revel in of on a regular basis existence.

The documentary known as Listen Our Voice essentially makes a speciality of other people with young-onset dementia.

It gives a glimpse of what dwelling with dementia is like, within the hope that it’s going to create higher working out and empathy.

Peter options all through the movie and narrates it.

“Appreciate used to be granted to those that have dementia to make and take keep an eye on of the movie to assist us get around the distinctive demanding situations we’ve,” he stated.

The movie options participants of Dementia NI.

The crowd used to be arrange in 2015 by way of 5 other people dwelling with dementia, however 10 years on they now have 15 teams throughout Northern Eire.

The teams labored along the Southern and South Jap well being trusts when making the Listen Our Voice challenge.

Dr Christopher Southwell, a specialist in Previous Age Psychiatry within the Southern Consider, believes the movie promotes an impressive message.

“Dementia is a situation that has a large affect on sufferers and their households and every now and then as healthcare execs we recognize that there are issues that may be executed higher,” he stated.

“Once I were given concerned and sooner or later watched the movie, it used to be essential for me so to say to other people like Peter and others in the back of the movie that I do listen your voice and tackle board what you might be announcing.”

Individuals of Dementia NI just lately met Well being Minister Mike Nesbitt at Stormont.

They known as on him to make lowering the time it takes to get a dementia analysis a concern.

In a while after the movie used to be launched, in a remark, the well being minister stated: “I congratulate the trusts and Dementia NI for creating this tough documentary which I haven’t any doubt will problem current stereotypes and shall be an informative technique to teach other people in how highest to fortify folks dwelling with dementia.”

Karen Kerr is head of engagement at Dementia NI.

She stated: “The participants are in point of fact enthusiastic about the significance of having an early analysis and if you get an early analysis it opens up a large number of alternatives with the intention to proceed to are living smartly with a way of objective and that’s the reason additionally what the movie is attempting to spotlight.

“While you listen from other people like Peter, I believe it demonstrates that individuals with dementia have a voice no longer only for themselves however for everybody affected with dementia.”

Peter added: “In the case of other people like me with dementia, please do not write us off, we’ve a voice, dementia does not outline us.”