 I was utterly heartbroken when my wonderful aunt, Nenetia, was recently diagnosed with dementia. Not just because we're so close – she's like a second mum to me – but because my nan died from dementia back in 2007 and my mum is currently bedridden and unable to speak because of the same disease. It's like a family curse. My mum and Nenetia have another sister and seven brothers – and of those 10 siblings, five of them, including all three women, have been diagnosed with dementia in the last 11 years. My mother was the first to be diagnosed in 2012, and Nenetia the most recent last year. But what makes things different with Nenetia's dementia and gives me some comfort, despite history seemingly repeating itself in my family, is that my aunt and her memories will live on forever because of a new awareness campaign using innovative technology. She's involved in an initiative with the UK Dementia Research Institute (UKDRI) called 'Wild and Precious', which focuses on how dementia disproportionately affects women. It's all about preserving the cherished memories of women who have experienced this disease by storing video footage on a virtual online database – and a documentary team came and filmed Nenetia looking back on some of the most important moments from her life. It was heart-wrenching when Nenetia was diagnosed with dementia in 2022 (Picture: Museum of Memories/WongDoody) I'm 49, and my mum had me quite young and Nenetia, now 74, was a great support for us, especially emotionally, as I grew up. Nenetia never had any children and sees me almost as her own child. Until she retired about 10 years ago, Nenetia's career involved working and managing pre-school nurseries and children, some of which had special educational needs. She also looked after my nan before she died. Nenetia was always so busy, and had a very active social life in her community in South London – she was famous){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
I was utterly heartbroken when my wonderful aunt, Nenetia, was recently diagnosed with dementia.
Not just because we’re so close – she’s like a second mum to me – but because my nan died from dementia back in 2007 and my mum is currently bedridden and unable to speak because of the same disease.
It’s like a family curse.
My mum and Nenetia have another sister and seven brothers – and of those 10 siblings, five of them, including all three women, have been diagnosed with dementia in the last 11 years. My mother was the first to be diagnosed in 2012, and Nenetia the most recent last year.