Commissions

Greenlit: The Truth About Dementia, BBC1

In the UK, figures show that there are 850,000 people living with dementia – and by 2050 it is projected to exceed 2 million.* Setting out to explore one of the great scientific challenges of our time, Angela will discover what the latest scientific research from around the world is revealing about dementia – of which the most common form is Alzheimer’s.

In this informative and personal film, Angela undergoes a series of tests to discover if she has any early signs of dementia, and makes the difficult decision of whether to take a genetic test that could predict her future risk.

Along the way, Angela finds out some of the surprising ways we can help to protect ourselves. She discovers why getting a good night’s sleep could help prevent Alzheimer’s, and how learning a new language might be more effective than any current drug treatment.

Angela also visits a number of people who are living with the disease, including Bob, the husband of one of her oldest friends. She meets families that carry a gene for early onset Alzheimer’s, and discovers how they could be our best hope of finding a cure for this devastating disease.

Channel: BBC1

Producer: BBC Scotland

TX: 19th May 2016

Source: BBC Press release