The holiday season, filled with joy and family reunions, is a time when children, parents, and grandparents come together. However, as dementia cases continue to climb each year, it’s important to remain vigilant about the well-being of our loved ones during this festive period.

In the UK, more than 982,000 individuals are currently living with dementia, a condition marked by a gradual decline in brain function. By 2040, projections suggest this number could rise to nearly 1.4 million.

Although there is no cure for dementia at present, recognizing the condition early is crucial. Early diagnosis can play a significant role in decelerating the disease’s progression in many instances.

Effective treatment and support provide crucial assistance to both those affected by dementia and their families. During the holiday season, it’s important to be aware of certain behaviors, particularly when preparing the traditional Christmas meal.

Cooking a roast dinner can be quite demanding, with numerous tasks to juggle. From chopping vegetables to ensuring the turkey is cooked perfectly, it’s easy to miss a step.

However, health professionals caution that forgetfulness might be more than just holiday stress; it could be a sign of dementia. If this is a concern, it might be wise to schedule a check-up with a GP.

Back in 2017, NHS England published a report in which the then National Clinical Director for Dementia and Older People’s Mental Health, Professor Alistair Burns, offered guidance on dementia warning signs that families should watch for, especially during festive gatherings.

He cautioned: “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.”

Professor Burns also emphasised how “complex tasks such as cooking a big Christmas dinner for a large number of people” can cause those with dementia to struggle with memory, leading to potential oversights such as neglecting the sprouts or preparing dishes in an incorrect sequence.

Alzheimer’s Research UK turned to TikTok to highlight additional warning signs of dementia to look out for during the holidays.

In a TikTok clip from 2023, Katie from their helpline team launched their Santa Forgot campaign, demonstrating some of the behavioural shifts that could signal dementia during the Christmas period.

In the footage, Katie revealed that you witness Santa confusing and mixing up where the presents are supposed to go.

She added: “We might see signs and symptoms of dementia like this in our loved ones at Christmas. They might put the wrong tags on the presents, or might get disorientated in familiar places, like someone’s house.”

According to Alzheimer’s Research UK, other early indicators of Alzheimer’s may include:

• Memory loss (forgetting recent events, names, faces and recently learned information)
• Being increasingly repetitive
• Misplacing things
• Confusion
• Disorientation
• Language (problems with finding the right words or understanding the meaning of words)
• Mood and behaviour (low mood, anxious or agitated)

If you think you or a loved one may have dementia, speak to your GP. If you have questions about symptoms or getting a diagnosis you can contact Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Dementia Research Infoline on 0300 111 5111 or infoline@alzheimersresearchuk.org.