18 July 2023 , 14:45
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A man whose dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's says he saw the signs a quarter of a century before doctors confirmed the condition.
Richard Lindsay, 76, was diagnosed with the disease in 2021 when a brain scan revealed he had been living with it since 2017. His son, Paul Lindsay, 49, said he started noticing changes in his dad's concentration levels 25 years ago.
Previously very frugal with money, Richard started trying to give it away, and wanted "deep conversations" with family, Paul said.
Six years ago his wife noticed he would misplace items before was finally diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2021.
Richard Lindsay with his wife Joyce (Paul Lindsay / SWNS)
Paul and his father Richard running the Nottingham Marathon in 1992 (Paul Lindsay / SWNS)Paul, a social worker, from Nottingham, told BristolLive : "My mum, being his nearest and dearest, spotted it first.
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“It would be big things - as a man of his generation, he would tend to hold on to his money, but he would start throwing it at you. He would want deep conversations with family members - it was almost like he knew something was going on.
“My dad was diagnosed two years ago after a series of meetings and doctor's appointments. I think it was a sense of relief. We knew all we could do together as a family was to pull together and help him."
Tragically, Paul described his dad as "totally gone".
He added: "It has manifested and progressed. It had got to the point where my dad is not there anymore.
Paul's parents' during their 50th wedding anniversary (Paul Lindsay / SWNS)“It is so tragic. It is like a silhouette of my dad walking into the distance."
It was announced on Monday a new Alzheimer's drug could help spell "the beginning of the end" for the neurodegenerative disease.
US pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly announced the full clinical trial results for drug donanemab at a conference.
It revealed the drug was found to slow clinical decline by up to 35%.
Paul said: "Sadly, it is too late for my dad - we recognise that as a family, but that is why I am campaigning to get everyone on board. I don't want families to go through what we have.
“If my dad would have been able to have this drug, to slow that journey down, it would have meant a lot for everyone. This is really exciting.
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"My dad is a gentleman, he is a happy man, and he always has been. It is sad as he doesn't really hold a conversation anymore. He is a man who ran the London Marathon aged 58, his body is physically fit but this disease had got hold of his brain."
Paul will be by walking from Lands End to John O’Groats next April.