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08 May 2014 08:31
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin is one of the stars backing the dementia campaign
Stars from the worlds of music, sport, comedy and television are coming together to raise awareness of dementia.
Musicians Chris Martin, Lily Allen and Alesha Dixon have teamed up with footballer Leighton Baines, comedian Simon Pegg, actor Ray Winstone and presenter Paul O'Grady to create a new advert to drum up support for sufferers with the condition.
They want to encourage people to become "dementia friends" to help boost volunteering, education and care nationwide.
The condition, which is associated with an ongoing decline of the brain and its abilities, usually occurs in people over the age of 65. People in this age group can protect themselves on holiday by taking out travel insurance that is specific to them, covering thousands of medical conditions and providing access to 24/7 emergency assistance.
Memory loss, thinking speed, mental agility, language, understanding and judgement are all affected by dementia.
The pop stars will be seen performing The Beatles' track I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends in the ad.
Author Sir Terry Pratchett, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease himself, is also involved in the call to arms, which will see volunteers who take part in the scheme attend free sessions to learn how to spot the signs of dementia and offer support for sufferers.
A new report compiled by the Centre for Economics and Business research on behalf of Dementia Friends - the Alzheimer's Society's campaign - reveals that businesses in England are losing out on £1.6 billion each year because of employees' caring obligations for people who have dementia.
It estimates that 50,000 carers will have to quit their job this year due to caring responsibilities, while a further 66,000 will have to make adjustments to the number of hours they work to fit in such duties.
Public Health England and the Alzheimer's Society are therefore encouraging more people to sign up to the Dementia Friends initiative.
19 April 2018
A self-injected smart drug may be the key to easing and preventing pain for migraine sufferers.
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17 April 2018
Despite its reputation as a party drug, ketamine is licensed as an anaesthetic. A recent US study found use of the drug via a nasal spray led to "significant" improvements in depressive symptoms in the first 24 hours.
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13 April 2018
Drinkers who consume more alcohol than UK guidelines suggest could be cutting years off their lives, according to new research.
12 April 2018
A recent study has revealed that people who sustain brain injuries are at an increased risk of developing dementia later in life.
11 April 2018
Scientists have announced their latest breakthrough in the battle against Alzheimer's disease, after neutralising a high-risk gene in a human brain cell for the first time.
07 April 2018
The Philippines is set to shut its most famous holiday island of Boracay for six months, after the President described it as a "cesspool".
05 April 2018
Taxes on soft drinks, alcohol and tobacco - nicknamed "sin taxes" - could be a powerful step towards combating rising rates of chronic diseases worldwide, research has suggested.
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30 March 2018
Doctors should tell patients that e-cigarettes are less harmful than smoking but not without risk, according to new national guidance.
29 March 2018
Young people suffering from mental health problems are finding it hard to get the support they need, a survey has revealed.
28 March 2018
Children exposed to epilepsy drugs in the womb may achieve poorer test results at school, a study has suggested.