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South Wales Argus
12-07-2025
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Dementia support in Monmouthshire outlined to councillors
Health chiefs are setting up Dementia Hubs in the five Gwent local authority areas with the base for Monmouthshire at the Abergavenny Wellbeing Centre. Amanda Whent, lead dementia nurse for Gwent's Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, told Monmouthshire County Councillors the hubs are intended to pull together all the information on the different support groups and services that are available. She said: 'The dementia hub should be a one stop shop to say what is going on in your area and to signpost and direct you to services.' She said the hubs are part of a six month pilot and while it had originally intended to establish a hub in Chepstow, Monmouth and Abergavenny a lack of funding meant those plans were 'scaled back' to just the Abergavenny base, which is run by the Alzheimer's Society following a tender exercise. Caldicot Cross councillor Jackie Strong said she wasn't aware of support from the health board for dementia in the Severnside area or how willing volunteers in the area could get involved. The Labour member also said the board should consider making use of existing community buildings and said: 'I think you are trying to reinvent the wheel.' She added: 'They would be better centrally located in Caldicot library for instance. I'm worried there is a lot of duplication but lots of people don't know what services are out there.' Jennifer Winslade, the board's director of nursing, said: 'We need to understand the feedback you've given us. An active library may be a different way of doing this.' She said the board would need to understand 'what each community needs'. The nurses were giving a briefing to the council's public services committee on care for people with dementia in communities including support for families. The NHS body produces an annual report to judge its progress against the all-Wales dementia care pathway for the regional partnership that along with the health service includes local authorities and Dementia Friendly communities programme. It works in schools, to bring different age groups together, with community groups, in care homes and hospitals as well as Usk and Prescoed prisons to support those with dementia. A dementia connector post is also being established to help provide support and assistance to patients and their families, which Ms Whent said would be at any time. She said: 'The point of diagnosis can be overwhelming, it can be too much information but we will make people aware support is there and at the time they need it.' A 'listening campaign' to get the views of communities on dementia services, and to identify gaps in care, has also been piloted in Newport which helped inform the Dementia Community Plan for Newport and the principles of that excercise will now be used, and adapted, for other areas of Gwent. The five dementia hubs are at Cwmbran Library, Ebbw Vale Institute, the Riverfront Theatre in Newport, Caerphilly Library and the Wellbeing Information Centre in Abergavenny.
South Wales Argus
11-07-2025
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Great British Bake Off star supports dementia campaign
Andy Ryan, who appeared on last year's Great British Bake Off, is backing the Alzheimer's Society's Forget Me Not Tea Party campaign, which raises funds for dementia research and support. The campaign follows the charity's Forget Me Not Appeal, which ran throughout June and encouraged people to wear a Forget Me Not badge in solidarity with those affected by dementia. Mr Ryan, whose nan had dementia, said: "It's easy to feel isolated, yet it's crucial for families to know they're not alone. "The Alzheimer's Society Forget Me Not Tea Parties are a great way to come together and support each other while helping to increase funding for vital research and support. "No one should have to navigate this alone." More than 50,000 people in Wales are living with dementia, and the Alzheimer's Society provides support to them and their families.
Business News Wales
10-07-2025
- Health
- Business News Wales
Haven Hikers Raise More Than £12,000 for Charity in Coastal Challenge
Staff from the Port of Milford Haven exceeded their charity fundraising target in a 40-mile coastal walking challenge around the Milford Haven Waterway. A team of 17 staff from the Port of Milford Haven hiked the Pembrokeshire Coast Path along the lower reaches of the Milford Haven Waterway – a busy shipping area operated and managed by the Port – raising money for three charities along the way. Starting at West Angle Bay, the group followed the waterway up to the Cleddau Bridge, where they crossed and continued along the northern shore to finish at St Anne's Head, covering over 40 miles in total. The group's main aim for the challenge was to raise £10,000 to be shared between three charities – Alzheimer's Society, British Heart Foundation and Young Lives vs Cancer. Their route encompassed many of the Port's key customers, such as Valero and South Hook LNG, providing the opportunity to engage with these organisations in a different way and talk to members of the public and local businesses about the Port and the team's aims for the walk. The success of the hiking team's fundraising effort was marked by them exceeding their goal by more than £2,000, with the total raised for charity amounting to more than £12,000. Niall Yeomans, Head of Health, Safety and Security at Port of Milford Haven, who organised the event, said: 'Myself and the Coastal Challenge walkers would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated to these three important charities. It makes a huge difference to group energy and morale to know we're all doing something for a good cause that will make a big impact. 'We'd also like to thank other members of staff at the Port, who supported us with food and preparations, made sure we were looked after over the course of the two days, and shared our cause with the community so that people could donate. 'The whole activity was a wonderful show of collaboration, and in the spirit of Port values, we all came together to make a difference while having fun and exercise along the way. We're looking forward to next year's challenge already.' The Port of Milford Haven supports and encourages all its staff to volunteer and undertake community work or fundraising activities that help towards building a prosperous and inclusive community, a sustainable and resilient environment, and a safe and enjoyable waterway. As a Trust Port, the Port of Milford Haven also runs a Community Fund to support these same aims.
Scottish Sun
01-07-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Common cough medicine could help protect against a form of dementia, new study finds
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A COMMON cough medicine could help protect people with Parkinson's against dementia. Around 145,000 people in the UK have Parkinson's, a progressive brain disease that affects movement - but they're also more likely to develop certain forms of dementia. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 A cough medicine prescribed for decades in Europe - called ambroxol - could stabilise the progression of Parkinson's dementia Credit: Getty Some people start to have problems with thinking, memory and perception. In fact, about a third with Parkinson's eventually develop dementia, according Alzheimer's Society. Now, researchers at Lawson Research Institute are investigating whether Ambroxol - a cough medicine used safely for decades in Europe - can slow dementia in people with Parkinson's disease. Lead author Dr Stephen Pasternak, a cognitive neurologist, said: "Our goal was to change the course of Parkinson's dementia. "This early trial offers hope and provides a strong foundation for larger studies." Ambroxol is an over-the-counter medicine that breaks up phlegm, making it easier to cough "with an excellent safety record", according to researchers. But it isn't currently approved in the UK, researchers said. The study - published in JAMA Neurology - involved 55 people over the age of 50, who'd had Parkinson's disease for at least a year before developing mild to moderate dementia. They were either given a daily dose of Ambroxol - 525mg or 1,050mg a day - or a placebo. Researchers assessed their memory, psychiatric symptoms, and the blood marker GFAP linked to brain damage. I saw a subtle change in my husband's run but never expected brain diagnosis They found that the drug was safe and well-tolerated among participants. Dementia symptoms worsened in the placebo group, they remained stable in those taking Ambroxol, scientists said. 'Individuals receiving placebo showed a clinically meaningful worsening in neuropsychiatric symptoms, whereas those receiving ambroxol remained stable,' researchers wrote. Ambroxol boosts levels of an enzyme called GCase, which is known to help clear away waste products which have gathered in brain cells. In Parkinson's, a build up of a troublesome protein called alpha-synuclein is often seen in the brain tissue. It's thought that ambroxol may help improve the body's ability to clear away these clumps of alpha-synuclein and prevent damage to brain cells. Participants with high risk variants of a key gene linked to dementia - called GBA1 - showed improved cognitive performance on Ambroxol, researchers added. Markers of brain cell damage, GFAP, also increased in the placebo group but stayed stable in those taking Ambroxol. What are the symptom's of Parkinson's dementia? Most people with Parkinson's dementia have symptoms very similar to those of dementia with Lewy bodies. These include: Problems with staying focused Difficulties with making decisions Memory loss and forgetfulness Problems with the way the person sees things around them As well as problems with memory and thinking, Parkinson's dementia also often causes: Problems staying fully awake Very disturbed sleep Visual hallucinations - seeing things which are not really there Delusions – thinking things that aren't true Changes in appetite Mood symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, or apathy Source: Alzheimer's Society This suggested the cough medicine may have the potential to protect the brain from Parkinson's-related decline. 'Ambroxol was safe, well-tolerated, and demonstrated target engagement,' scientists wrote, however adding that the drug's clinical effect on cognition was 'not confirmed' in the study. Dr Pasternak said: "Current therapies for Parkinson's disease and dementia address symptoms but do not stop the underlying disease. "These findings suggest Ambroxol may protect brain function, especially in those genetically at risk. It offers a promising new treatment avenue where few currently exist." Scientists hope the study's findings could pave the way for larger clinical trials that test the effectiveness of Ambroxol in slowing dementia symptoms. Dr Pasternak is now is now looking into whether boosting GCase with Ambroxol could help protect the brain in Parkinson's-related diseases. "This research is vital because Parkinson's dementia profoundly affects patients and families," he said. "If a drug like Ambroxol can help, it could offer real hope and improve lives." Ambroxol was first explored as a possible Parkinson's treatment in 2009. A trial supported by Parkinson's UK that's currently taking place will observe 330 people with Parkinson's as they take ambroxol - a placebo drug - over two yeas, to see if it is beneficial in the long-term.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Warrington's Gladiator winner backs appeal in honour of her late mum
WARRINGTON'S Gladiator has backed an Alzheimer's Society appeal in honour of her late mum. Amanda Wah, who lives in Lymm, soared through the latest season of the BBC TV show and claimed victory in the tense grand final. The gym owner dedicated her triumph to her mum, Allyson, who was diagnosed with a rare form of dementia at 55. 'My mum was always there for us,' said Amanda. 'She was a stubborn lady and very supportive of the whole family. She never dropped the ball. 'But she was only 55 when she was diagnosed with dementia back in 2015. She'd been having problems with her speech for a while, but the doctors put it down to menopause. 'At first she was slurring her words, but later she started to lose her speech entirely.' Amanda dedicated her victory to her mum (Image: Alex Hughes) Allyson was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia (PPA), a type of frontotemporal dementia which progressed over time. People diagnosed with PPA can have trouble remembering words and names of objects, and others may struggle to speak at their usual speed or use words in the right order. 'When mum first got her diagnosis, we made the most of every day, taking trips and visiting places she'd always wanted to see,' said Amanda. 'We used phone apps to communicate. She didn't lose her memory, but the Covid lockdowns had a massive impact. We really saw a big deterioration and by 2023 she was struggling to eat and had lost a lot of weight. 'Things got harder for the family, especially my dad who cared for mum at home. We lost her in April 2023.' This month, Amanda is proudly wearing a Forget Me Not badge as part of Alzheimer's Society's Forget Me Not Appeal. Read more Boyfriend, dad and friends of woman who fought cancer twice team up for big challenge Why two vital Warrington charities came together on one memorable night Race for Life countdown as Warrington cancer fundraiser returns 'We are so grateful to Amanda for supporting our Forget Me Not Appeal,' said Jess Mackenzie, Alzheimer's Society Regional Fundraiser for Cheshire. 'One in three people born in the UK will develop dementia in their lifetime. Dementia affects all of us. 'Every donation to the Forget Me Not Appeal helps fund crucial Alzheimer's Society services and groundbreaking dementia research. 'Everyone will have their own reason for wearing a badge, it could be in honour of a loved one receiving life-changing support, or in recognition of the groundbreaking research shaping the future for those living with dementia.' To find out more about the appeal, and to donate, visit
