A national £2 million campaign to increase dementia awareness started today as it was revealed the number of sufferers in Bradford and Airedale will rise by more than a quarter in the next decade.

In 2010 there were 5,113 people with diagnosed and undiagnosed dementia in the district, but that is expected to rise to 6,485 by 2021.

The Department of Health campaign aims to change the undiagnosed number because they believe the condition, which describes different brain disorders that trigger brain function loss, such as Alzheimer’s disease, is easier to treat the earlier it is diagnosed.

Nicki Dyson, Yorkshire area manager for the Alzheimer’s Society, which has been working with the Government on the campaign, said it was vital to take time to understand and talk about the condition.

“People with dementia and their families often tell us they were fearful of seeking a diagnosis, however it opened a door to support, treatment and information they would not otherwise have had access to and helped them plan for the future,” she said.

Across West Yorkshire, more than 24,000 people are living with dementia, but fewer than half of them are diagnosed. That figure is expected to rise to more than 31,000 by 2021.

Paul Burstow, Care Services Minister, said: “Don’t wait until a crisis. Being diagnosed with dementia won’t make the condition worse, but leaving it untreated will. We can’t cure dementia, but we can help you keep the person you love for longer through vital support the NHS can offer.”

For further information on the symptoms of dementia, visit nhs.uk/dementia.

Read more on this story in today's T&A