Many people would love to make their money as soon as possible and retire. Others enjoy working and end up retiring at an old age. Some, however, are forced into retirement early due to some unexpected illness. This was the case with 49-year-old Irishman, Peter Alexander, when he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. This diagnosis meant that Peter would be forced to leave his job and focus on his health instead. Before his diagnosis, however, Peter started noticing a change in his work that made him realize that something was wrong.
A Change In Peter’s Work Ethic
Peter started noticing that something was different at work, a change in his work ethic that became more and more apparent over time. However, at the time he had no clue that it could possibly be dementia causing his issues. It became harder for Peter to meet his work deadlines and he often couldn’t recall certain words during meetings. It began to bother him so much that he eventually booked an appointment with a neurologist. Unfortunately, the results took Peter completely by surprise.
Unexpected Results
Peter said he could clearly remember the date when he was first diagnosed, 14th January 2018. “Peter, I have diagnosed you with having frontotemporal dementia” he recalled of the day. He was informed that due to his diminished judgment, it was no longer safe for him to work. For Peter, this was a lot to adapt to. Peter is now 56 years old and wants to be treated the same as everyone else, despite his diagnosis. He believes that it is vital that people see the actual person and not just the condition. He feels that he is still essentially the same person, stating, “I might not always be able to express it in the same way, but I’m still the same person I was, inside I’m still Peter.”
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How Does Dementia Affect People?
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, more than 25,000 people are living with dementia in Northern Ireland alone. Dementia is a syndrome characterized by a continuing deterioration in one’s brain function. Among the most common symptoms is memory loss, especially the inability to recall recent events. Other symptoms may include changes in behavior, personality, and mood, feeling disoriented in familiar settings, or finding it difficult to find the proper word in a conversation. For some individuals, it can get so bad that they don’t even know when to eat. The Alzheimer’s Society also estimates that more than 70,000 people living in the United Kingdom suffer from young-onset dementia.
How Frontotemporal Dementia Affects People
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) refers to a group of neurological conditions that mostly affect the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes. These parts of the brain are associated with behavior, personality, and language. Bruce Willis recently went public about his diagnosis of this disease, along with other well-known individuals such as Wendy Williams. Parts of the lobes of those with this disease begin to shrink over time, a process known as atrophy. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Symptoms depend on which part of the brain is affected. Some people with frontotemporal dementia have changes in their personalities. Additionally, many people become socially inappropriate, which makes them a particular risk in the work environment.
The Bottom Line on Peter’s Dementia Journey
Peter began to meet up with other people in Northern Ireland in the same situation. That he had found himself in. Together, they made a film about living with young-onset dementia, called Hear Our Voice. The aim of the film is to provide people with insight into dementia, a small glimpse of the lives of those living with the condition. He hopes that it will bring empathy and better understanding, not only featuring throughout the film, but narrating it too. He feels that people with dementia shouldn’t just be written off – they have a voice too, and it deserves to be heard.
Read More: The Surprising Link Between Dreams and Dementia or Parkinson’s Disease