'My dad's been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, but we first saw the signs 25 years ago'

The son of man with Alzheimer's has told of the subtle symptoms his dad developed 25 years before he was diagnosed. Richard Lindsay, 76, discovered he had the cruel disease in 2021.

But his son Paul, 49, says he first started noticing changes in his dad's memory, concentration levels and behaviour more than two decades 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. Paul, a social worker, from Nottingham, said: "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.

"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 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."

On Sunday it was announced 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 which has been found to slow clinical decline by up to 35%.

Paul said: "Sadly, it is too late