Dad diagnosed with Alzheimer’s two years ago, signs came 25 years earlier

By Ben Barry via SWNS

A man whose dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's two years ago said he saw the signs 25 years ago.

Richard Lindsay, 76, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2021 after a brain scan revealed that he has been living with the disease since 2017.

Richard's 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.

And a big change came six years ago, when Richard's wife, Joyce 75, noticed he would misplace items.

After years of deterioration, Richard was formally diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2021.

Paul, a social worker, from Nottingham, England, said: "My mom being his nearest and dearest spotted it first.

"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."

"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."

Paul said his dad is now "totally gone."

He said: "It has manifested and progressed. It had got to the point where my dad is not there anymore.

"It is so tragic. It is like a silhouette of my dad walking into the distance."

It was announced yesterday (June 17) 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 yesterday.

It revealed that the drug is found to slow clinical decline by up to 35 percent.

Paul said: "Sadly, it is too late for my dad - we recognize 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.

"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 raising money for the Alzheimer's Society by walking from Lands End to John O’Groats next April.