Former Stoke City and England goalkeeping legend is just one of a host of names adding weight to the new NHS campaign entitled “A Day To Remember”, highlighting the importance in early diagnosis of dementia.

The campaign – part of Prime Minister David Cameron’s Challenge on Dementia – is aimed at encouraging people to have that first ‘difficult conversation’ with a friend or family member when they spot the signs and symptoms of dementia, and encourage them to visit their GP.

The three-month national campaign, launched on World Alzheimer’s Day, will
raise awareness of the condition, what initial signs and symptoms look like
and how to seek help. Advice on how to have difficult conversations about the
condition will also be available.

The Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia was launched in March this year
and included a commitment to change people’s understanding of the condition.
In addition to the £3.2m campaign, the Challenge committed to transform the UK into a leading light of dementia care and research, by driving up diagnosis rates; and increasing investment in research and raising the quality of dementia care.

Sir Michael Parkinson, Fiona Phillips and legendary England goalkeeper
Gordon Banks have lent their support to the campaign, by sharing their personal experiences of dementia in a short film, at www.nhs.uk/dementia.

Initial signs and symptoms of the condition, which is caused by diseases including Alzheimer’s Disease, may include short-term memory loss that effects daily life, unexplained anxiety or depression and problems thinking or reasoning, such as finding it hard to follow conversations or TV programmes.