Woman with early onset Alzheimer’s like Pauline Quirke uses memory board

In a story reminiscent of actress Pauline Quirke’s experience, Wendy Campbell, 63, who was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease in July 2024, relies on a memory board to navigate her daily life. Wendy, a former research nurse from Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, first noticed symptoms such as difficulty acquiring new skills and retaining information but dismissed them until they began to interfere with her work.

She now believes that had she not overlooked these early signs, she could have received her diagnosis up to five years earlier. Her experience has motivated her to urge others not to delay seeking help.

This comes after the recent revelation that Birds of a Feather actress Pauline Quirke, famed for her role as Sharon Theodopolopodous, was diagnosed with the same condition in 2021.

Wendy shared: “People may think it’s meningitis or old age, but it’s not always that.”

She added, “I would forget things and I struggle to retain new information.”

She further explained, “I can remember things from years ago, but I struggle with things that happened yesterday or last week unless they’re written down.”

To aid her memory, Wendy uses a memory board and relies on reminders from her husband, Glenn, 55, to take her medication daily. She said, “Remembering names – it just gradually deteriorates over time, hopefully slowly.”

She concluded by saying, “Everyone with dementia is different, and people can be stable for years and years or deteriorate really slowly, and mine has deteriorated.

“My husband supports me and I live day to day.

“Sometimes, I have good and bad days and don’t feel sorry for myself.

“I knew already, and I took that in my stride – deep down, I knew.”

Wendy first participated in a research study at the Aberdeen memory clinic in March 2019, which brought to light some underlying symptoms, including difficulty retaining information. However, the study was prematurely ended due to the Covid pandemic.

She tried to ignore her symptoms until they began to interfere with her work. Wendy explained: “I had difficulty in learning new tasks and retaining information.Wendy then put herself forward for another research study in June, 2023 at Glasgow Clinic.As a result of this, she was referred to local health professionals and was formally diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease in December, 2023.Wendy’s mum, Margret, 89, also had Alzheimer’s and passed away in March last year aged, 89.Wendy said: “.

In June 2023, she volunteered for another research study at the Glasgow Clinic. This led to a referral to local health professionals and a formal diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer’s disease in December 2023.

Wendy’s mother, Margret, who also suffered from Alzheimer’s, passed away at the age of 89 in March last year. Wendy shared: “I was struggling to retain new information at work.

“As I worked in research I had two new upcoming studies I had to learn all about and I couldn’t retain any of the protocols and policies.

“I would watch training videos then forget what I had seen. I would read paperwork then forget what I had read.

“I couldn’t take anything in, and I watched the videos and read the new policies, and I wasn’t observing any new information.”

Wendy explained how the initial steps towards diagnosis were taken: “I saw an advert for a research study on Alzheimer’s at the Glasgow Memory Clinic, and I contacted them and went down to do the questions.”

As a result of participating in the study, further investigative procedures were carried out: “They did a PET scan and found frontal and parietal lobes on the brain and they said that I was eligible for the study.”

She noted that the purpose of the research was to gauge its potential effects: “They wanted to see if it slowed down or eased the progression.”

Her employer was supportive during this period: “After I told my manager about the study, they let me off on sick leave.”

The conclusive diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer’s came several months later: “It was about eight months later in Aberdeen that I got the final diagnosis.”

As part of her participation in the study, Wendy began taking medication to manage her symptoms: “I’m on tablets for the study – which help with the symptoms and anxiety and improves memory a little bit.”

Her approach to dealing with the illness focuses on staying optimistic and living in the present: “I have better days and not-so-better days, and I try to keep positive and take it one day at a time.”

Despite the challenges posed by Alzheimer’s, Wendy and her loved ones are committed to creating new memories: “We’ve booked a holiday to make more memories, and we’re going to Gibraltar in April.”