Introduction I often muddle my words, much to the amusement of myself and others. I wanted to find out more about this curious and fascinating phenomenon and the man whose name will be forever linked to it. So, I've done a little digging, and here are the results. "raise your glasses to the queer old dean" Who was Spooner? The Reverend William Archibald Spooner was a clergyman and Oxford Don, well known for his absent-mindedness. He lectured on ancient history, divinity and philosophy for over 60 years. He was much loved by both his students and his peers for his propensity to mix up the syll ..read more

Introduction Dementia is a formidable adversary, challenging not only the cognitive abilities of those of us affected but also our sense of self and independence. I've met many people living with dementia who are achieving remarkable feats that are both inspirational and a testament to the indomitability of the human spirit. In this blog, I want to celebrate the resilience and triumphs of those who refuse to be defined by their condition and instead rise above it and showcase their extraordinary capabilities. Over the past five years since my diagnosis, it's been my privilege to meet many tale ..read more

It's time! It's time for a 24-hour, seven-day, seven-day-a-week TV channel specifically designed for people living with dementia. A channel that caters to the whole spectrum of dementia. A channel that addresses our unique needs and challenges. A channel that informs, entertains, and educates. Think about it. There are currently over 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK. Add carers, family and loved ones, and you have a MASSIVE potential audience. Ideas for content: Just imagine what could be achieved: Singing for the Brain - Karaoke-style singalongs you can take part in from y ..read more

Dementia is a complex and challenging condition, and those of us living with it deserve empathy, understanding, and respect. Yet, all too often, we face harmful stereotypes that can lead to discrimination, isolation, and a reduced quality of life. So I'll try to shed some light on a few of the most common stereotypes associated with dementia and explain why it's crucial to challenge and change them. Hopefully, if you weren't aware already, by the end of this article, you'll have the knowledge and inspiration to get out there and CHALLENGE the lazy people who perpetuate these stereotypes. So ..read more

We all go through a period of adjustment after our diagnosis. We pass through stages of fright and despair, self-pity, and anger. But, sooner or later, there are decisions to make. So we need to ask ourselves one fundamental question... How can I live the best life I can in the time remaining to me? You can, of course, avoid the question, but you'll drift along in one of the "why me?", "It's not fair" bubbles of anger, despair or self-pity that I mentioned earlier. That's the easy option. But the clock is ticking, and every single day wasted in introspection is a day lost when you could be en ..read more

I've been CONFABULATING! Recently, I've noticed that my recall has become increasingly unreliable. I'll relate a tale in conversation only to find that I have got the details muddled or incorrect on reflection or when gently corrected by my wife, Pam. This doesn't happen often, but it is incredibly embarrassing. Anyway, I was sufficiently worried that I engaged in a little research, and I'd like to share what I found with you because I find the whole topic fascinating and relevant. What is confabulation? The dictionary says that: "Confabulation in dementia involves the spontaneous creation of ..read more

This is a just short blog to document some of the latest effects of my deterioration. Over the last few months, I've become prone to using malapropisms in my more relaxed and unguarded conversation, and I'm curious whether this is common amongst my peers. For those unfamiliar with the term, a malapropism is the mistaken use of an incorrect word in place of a word with a similar sound. "He is the very pine-apple of politeness." Mrs Malaprop The term "malapropism" comes from a character called Mrs Malaprop, from The Rivals, a 1775 five-act comedy by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Mrs Malaprop did ..read more

Well, it's 4:00 AM, and I've been awake most of the night - as usual. And as is often the case, the maelstrom of disconnected half-dreams bombarding my subconscious has thrown up a concept for me to write about. So here I am, sitting in front of my computer and dictating in a stream-of-consciousness sort of way the sum of the thoughts I have been having recently that describe my dementia. Dementia has provided me with a constant companion. But, unfortunately, that companion is a continual confusion of white noise that consists of snippets of remembered conversation, music, random thought and ..read more

There have been a series of breakthroughs in our understanding of the mechanisms which cause Alzheimer's disease, and the future is brighter because of them. But along with the good news, there are inevitably those who ride on the back of it to try and sell patent "cures" to the desperate and vulnerable. Where there is sadness and despair, there will always be people queuing up to exploit it. So what are the facts, and how can we recognise the difference between a potentially useful therapy or treatment and a confection of smoke and mirrors designed to make money out of misery? Now I'm no sci ..read more

It's occurred to me that I have a blog, but I seldom write about the mundane things that happen daily during my journey into dementia. Time to put that straight. So I invite you to walk alongside me for a day and experience my world and Alzheimer's disease's effect on my day-to-day functioning. 4 a.m. I wake up sweating. The echoes of an intense dream swiftly fading but still leaving vivid impressions in my mind. It takes me a few minutes to orientate myself and work out that the waking world I will be inhabiting for the rest of the day does not contain the people, places and events that popu ..read more