0:00:02 > 0:00:07GROUP: # Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you
0:00:07 > 0:00:11# Happy birthday, Dear Jerry
0:00:11 > 0:00:15# Happy birthday to me. #
0:00:18 > 0:00:2080 years old.
0:00:20 > 0:00:26Cyril, or Jerry to his friends, is in fact 90, and he has dementia.
0:00:26 > 0:00:27Where's me missus gone now?
0:00:38 > 0:00:41It may not be of great concern if you're only in your twenties,
0:00:41 > 0:00:43but if things remain as they are,
0:00:43 > 0:00:47one in three people over 65 will develop dementia.
0:00:48 > 0:00:52It's a devastating condition that gradually erodes the brain
0:00:52 > 0:00:56and a person's ability to remember, to understand and communicate.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59It isn't a normal part of ageing.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04World-leading genetic research in Cardiff
0:01:04 > 0:01:06does offer hope for the future,
0:01:06 > 0:01:10and dementia care in our communities is becoming a greater priority.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14In this programme, we'll look at those
0:01:14 > 0:01:17in the earlier stages of the disease,
0:01:17 > 0:01:20as they try to cope and live a life with dementia.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39A proud Irish man from Dublin, Jerry came to Wales after the War
0:01:39 > 0:01:43to work as a skilled mechanical engineer in Newbridge, Gwent.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47In his spare time, he could turn his hand to just about anything.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52This is the kind of thing I made -
0:01:52 > 0:01:55it's the turning and anything to do with it - as a youngster.
0:01:57 > 0:01:58That was his life.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02He loved his workshop, and his tools.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07He's always been such a busy man.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11Following the diagnosis of dementia three years ago,
0:02:11 > 0:02:14Shirley felt devastated and alone.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17I didn't know anyone with dementia...
0:02:19 > 0:02:22..so I didn't know who to ask.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24I didn't even go to the doctors and ask.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27But there was no-one called me.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30All right, lover, we'll have a nice cup of tea
0:02:30 > 0:02:35and we can have a chat about what we've done this morning.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38'You go out and meet people who say to you,'
0:02:38 > 0:02:40"Oh, how are you?"
0:02:40 > 0:02:42"Oh, I'm fine, everything's good."
0:02:42 > 0:02:45And you're telling fibs, telling lies all the time.
0:02:45 > 0:02:50'But we don't want everybody to see how we really are.'
0:02:50 > 0:02:55So, as I say, you've had a good day today, opened all the cards
0:02:55 > 0:02:58and seeing all the friends again.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01'I didn't want to talk about it to anybody.'
0:03:01 > 0:03:04I didn't mention it to a lot of people.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08It's like as if it's a dirty word then, you know?
0:03:10 > 0:03:12'You're in denial.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15'You don't want to believe that that's happening.'
0:03:15 > 0:03:18That looks good, anyway, that's great.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27Hope for a treatment or cure may lie here in Cardiff
0:03:27 > 0:03:31with the pioneering scientific research taking place
0:03:31 > 0:03:33into the genetic causes of Alzheimer's disease,
0:03:33 > 0:03:36the most common type of dementia.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38Led by Professor Julie Williams,
0:03:38 > 0:03:42the work involves identifying variations in genes
0:03:42 > 0:03:45that increase the risk of developing the disease.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50Genes will take you to the heart of the mechanisms,
0:03:50 > 0:03:53the things that are going wrong in diseases.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57By looking for them and identifying them,
0:03:57 > 0:04:00you will be able to identify the basic mechanisms
0:04:00 > 0:04:04that are going wrong to develop the disease.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08And that is one of the most exciting things about finding genes.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14What we do now will have enormous implications for what happens
0:04:14 > 0:04:19in ten, 15 years' time, cos if we don't work on these now,
0:04:19 > 0:04:22you ain't going to have any therapies that are going to
0:04:22 > 0:04:26try and prevent and delay the onset for the next generation.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37Strands of DNA containing millions of genes
0:04:37 > 0:04:40need to be collected from tens of thousands of donors.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47Hello, how are you.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49Hi, my name's Charlene, lovely to meet you.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51Julie's field team are always looking for volunteers
0:04:51 > 0:04:54and are today visiting Betty and 85-year-old husband Norman,
0:04:54 > 0:04:58whose dementia was diagnosed two years ago.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01Thank you very much for seeing us today.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03What we'd like to do today is to split up, if that's all right.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06- So, if I can have a chat with you, Norman.- Right.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08Before taking Norman's blood sample,
0:05:08 > 0:05:11they need a case history and brief assessment.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14- I'll leave you to it, then.- OK.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16So, Norman, I'm going to ask you some questions today,
0:05:16 > 0:05:18some of them might sound a bit silly,
0:05:18 > 0:05:21and some you might not want to answer, but that's fine.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23Just try your best. Is that OK?
0:05:23 > 0:05:24'First noticed,'
0:05:24 > 0:05:27must have been about two and a half years ago,
0:05:27 > 0:05:33when we went out to Australia to see our youngest son,
0:05:33 > 0:05:38and a couple of times while we were there he got lost
0:05:38 > 0:05:42on a very simple route, just didn't know whether to go left or right
0:05:42 > 0:05:45and we had to go out looking for him.
0:05:45 > 0:05:49Now I'm going to say three words. I'd like you to repeat them back
0:05:49 > 0:05:52then try your best to remember them, because I'll ask you again.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55The words are, apple, table, penny.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57Apple, table, penny.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59Lovely, thank you.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02How do you think, then, Norman's memory has been
0:06:02 > 0:06:05over the last two and a half years? Has anything changed?
0:06:05 > 0:06:11Um, his short term memory has, rapidly, I think,
0:06:11 > 0:06:13in the last six months, become worse.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16Right, OK. In what ways, particularly?
0:06:16 > 0:06:21Um, asking the same question, repeating the question
0:06:21 > 0:06:24perhaps five, six times in five minutes.
0:06:24 > 0:06:25Thank you very much.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28And can you remember the three words, by any chance?
0:06:28 > 0:06:29I'm sorry, they've gone already.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32That's OK, that's absolutely fine.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34If I keep cool, he's fine.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37You're like his rock, aren't you?
0:06:37 > 0:06:41Oh, no, I don't say that! But if I'm a bit...
0:06:41 > 0:06:44You know, "Hurry up," agitated...
0:06:44 > 0:06:45He reads that.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48He reacts, yes.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01Back in Newbridge, after 18 months with little support,
0:07:01 > 0:07:05by chance, Shirley heard about a local centre
0:07:05 > 0:07:08run by the Alzheimer's Society and gave them a call.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12She and Jerry have been going there religiously
0:07:12 > 0:07:14two mornings a week ever since.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16Today, it's craft day.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18I missed that one, I haven't seen that one.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23There's some delicate cuts in there.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25The blue's in the middle.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29'You know you've got a bit of me time.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31'You can go and have a word with the other people.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34'I mean, they're exactly the same as myself.'
0:07:34 > 0:07:40They need to be a little bit for themselves,
0:07:40 > 0:07:42which is a big thing.
0:07:42 > 0:07:43It helps when we go back,
0:07:43 > 0:07:47cos when we go back to the house, you've got something to talk about.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49You know, there's a different conversation.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53Try and get in the grooves.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56Come on, I want to see a sheen on that, look at Jerry doing his,
0:07:56 > 0:07:58he's going for it, boy.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01'At one time, I couldn't get him to leave me.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04'And we were trying to get him'
0:08:04 > 0:08:05to join in with others.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07He's always been a very friendly man.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10He used to make the conversation.
0:08:10 > 0:08:11But then he didn't...
0:08:11 > 0:08:14It's like he doesn't want to leave my side.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16But being here, again,
0:08:16 > 0:08:19is something that brings him out a little bit more,
0:08:19 > 0:08:22that now he automatically goes there.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25LAUGHING
0:08:26 > 0:08:28Yes, you tell 'em!
0:08:28 > 0:08:31'I'm in a different environment myself, now, here.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34'And I do get a lot out of it,
0:08:34 > 0:08:37'because I can leave him alone and he can carry on,
0:08:37 > 0:08:41'so I'm not on his back and he's not on mine, then, you know?'
0:08:41 > 0:08:43Go on then.
0:08:43 > 0:08:44Happy birthday.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46MAN: Jerry, can I have a kiss?!
0:08:46 > 0:08:48Can you imagine?!
0:08:54 > 0:08:58Jackie, who cares for 84-year-old husband George,
0:08:58 > 0:09:01found that the key to finding support and information
0:09:01 > 0:09:03was having a formal diagnosis at a memory clinic.
0:09:07 > 0:09:12Today, they're back for a review with consultant Tony Bayer at Llandough hospital.
0:09:15 > 0:09:19So, we're concentrating on the memory side of things today.
0:09:19 > 0:09:20Is that a problem to you?
0:09:20 > 0:09:24It might be, depends what you ask me, you know.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26OK, what year have we got to now?
0:09:26 > 0:09:28Oh, well...
0:09:30 > 0:09:32I'm sorry, I don't know.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35I think, 2012, we are now.
0:09:35 > 0:09:36- Are we?- Yeah.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39Does that sound right to you?
0:09:40 > 0:09:442012, oh, good God, time's going on, isn't it?
0:09:44 > 0:09:45- LAUGHING:- Yes!
0:09:45 > 0:09:48I thought it was about 2005 or something.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50Well, you see how time flies.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52'Until you actually'
0:09:52 > 0:09:57have a diagnosis, really all you have is a set of problems,
0:09:57 > 0:09:59and you don't know how best to manage them
0:09:59 > 0:10:01because you don't know what the cause is.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04If I just show you the pictures here...
0:10:04 > 0:10:07'And that's not going to be helpful for families,
0:10:07 > 0:10:11'and it's not actually going to be helpful for the person themselves.'
0:10:11 > 0:10:13- What's that called? - A burning cigarette.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16A wristwatch.
0:10:16 > 0:10:21Um, that is an Australian thing, I don't know what it would be.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24I can't remember, I'm sorry.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26What about this, what's that?
0:10:26 > 0:10:27That's a crown.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29OK, who would wear it?
0:10:29 > 0:10:30Wear the crown?
0:10:30 > 0:10:32The crown, yeah.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34Well, probably a very prominent, um...
0:10:36 > 0:10:37Yes, a prominent, uh...
0:10:38 > 0:10:40Yes.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42I'm sorry, I'm lost.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44'Anything, really, that actually seems'
0:10:44 > 0:10:47out of the ordinary for the patient
0:10:47 > 0:10:51is worth bringing to the attention of your GP,
0:10:51 > 0:10:56and then that opens the door to proper assessment and diagnosis.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58So, do you have problems with everyday things,
0:10:58 > 0:11:03like getting dressed, or choosing what clothes you might have,
0:11:03 > 0:11:05or would your wife have to help you with that?
0:11:05 > 0:11:11He can dress himself, but it's a little bit haphazard.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13SHE LAUGHS
0:11:13 > 0:11:17In that he might forget to take his pyjamas off, or...
0:11:17 > 0:11:19So things go on in the wrong order sometimes.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21'It's nothing to fear,'
0:11:21 > 0:11:24being diagnosed.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27it's more of a relief when you know what it actually is.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32'Your attitude changes, because'
0:11:32 > 0:11:36you understand why they behave in a certain way,
0:11:36 > 0:11:41and that makes it easier - most of the time - to cope with.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44OK, let's finish - what's that one?
0:11:44 > 0:11:45A barrel of beer.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57Today in Cardiff, Julie Williams is leading a unique collaboration
0:11:57 > 0:12:00of elite scientists from Europe and the United States,
0:12:00 > 0:12:03here to thrash out the next stage of their mission
0:12:03 > 0:12:06to unlock the secrets of Alzheimer's.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09So, thank you very much for coming,
0:12:09 > 0:12:12it's great to see everybody's finally got here,
0:12:12 > 0:12:14with all our technical problems.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18What we really would like to achieve out of this
0:12:18 > 0:12:23is extending what I think is a very successful initial collaboration...
0:12:23 > 0:12:26Here, in one room, are the world's sharpest minds
0:12:26 > 0:12:29in this ground-breaking field of genetic research.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33..and I think we do better science together than we do apart...
0:12:33 > 0:12:35'You've got to recognise,'
0:12:35 > 0:12:37these are people that have been working against each other
0:12:37 > 0:12:40and in competition for funding and papers.
0:12:40 > 0:12:45Now they've had to put that all aside and decide to work together,
0:12:45 > 0:12:50and that's a big thing in science, you know, but it's being achieved,
0:12:50 > 0:12:54you can see it happening and evolving in front of your eyes. It's great.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57But what we don't want is to pay for something that'll never get results.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59That's my point.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01THEY ALL TALK OVER EACH OTHER
0:13:03 > 0:13:06Is it clear in their head of what is on the chip?
0:13:06 > 0:13:09'We'll have disagreements, yes.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11'We'll have people who want
0:13:11 > 0:13:15'to go about it one way, and there's another way,'
0:13:15 > 0:13:18and we talk about it and we get a resolution,
0:13:18 > 0:13:23and I think today it's been great, because we've actually achieved that.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25So what you're saying is that, out of this now,
0:13:25 > 0:13:28there are six new genome-wide significant...
0:13:30 > 0:13:35'I'm positive that the genes we find will be informative for the people
0:13:35 > 0:13:38'that think about drug discovery,'
0:13:38 > 0:13:40because the longer the list of genes they have to look at,
0:13:40 > 0:13:43the longer the list of targets, the better chance there is
0:13:43 > 0:13:47it'll pop and say, "That's the one we can design a drug for."
0:13:48 > 0:13:52To put everything together in one, big collaboration is unique.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55There's nowhere else in the world that this is happening,
0:13:55 > 0:14:00so this will take Alzheimer's research forward in a leap,
0:14:00 > 0:14:04and I think, you know, we may have got the answers in 20 years -
0:14:04 > 0:14:07we're now going to get the answers in three or four.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09This is the start of something really big.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21Following his diagnosis, Norman and his wife Betty
0:14:21 > 0:14:25were told about Solace, a carer support service in Cardiff
0:14:25 > 0:14:28that offered an innovative programme of activities
0:14:28 > 0:14:30called "Making a Difference".
0:14:30 > 0:14:34- Good morning, everyone. - ALL: Good morning.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36Thank you for coming back and seeing me.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40Do you remember what we did last week?
0:14:40 > 0:14:42No?
0:14:42 > 0:14:45- We talked about your childhood. - Ah, yes.- Do you remember?
0:14:45 > 0:14:47That rings a bit of a bell, yes.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49And do you know what day it is today?
0:14:49 > 0:14:51No cheating, Norman.
0:14:51 > 0:14:52Oh, dear.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55- Anybody? - Yes, it's Tuesday.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57Alan, excellent.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59Making a difference is a very simple programme.
0:14:59 > 0:15:04It's repetitive, it deals with reminiscence,
0:15:04 > 0:15:07'it looks at improving or stirring up people's memories.'
0:15:07 > 0:15:10So, can someone tell me what has been happening in the news?
0:15:10 > 0:15:14Winston Churchill's new wife's having a baby.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17I don't think that was in the recent news, George.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20- Wasn't it?- I don't think so.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23- I'm sorry.- It's quite all right.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27People come, they have fun, they recognise coming to the house,
0:15:27 > 0:15:30they recognise the group members.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32Very strong bonds are built there.
0:15:32 > 0:15:38Routine and structure is what actually keeps people functioning.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41They will all say at the end of it, "We don't want it to stop."
0:15:41 > 0:15:43Thanks for coming today.
0:15:43 > 0:15:48Jan has asked me to talk to you about person-centred care.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52In the room next door, the carers also have an invaluable chance
0:15:52 > 0:15:55to share and receive advice and support.
0:15:55 > 0:15:59It saps your energy. It saps theirs as well.
0:15:59 > 0:16:04You know, and everybody is left exhausted.
0:16:04 > 0:16:08And then you've still got another 18 hours to go
0:16:08 > 0:16:10before it's time for bed!
0:16:10 > 0:16:13You're going to hear some different sounds, OK?
0:16:13 > 0:16:16Try to recognise them by the picture.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18QUACKING
0:16:20 > 0:16:22- What was it?- It's a duck.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26- All right then.- That's right. - There he is.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30You have to be positive about the illness.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32You have to be positive about any illness,
0:16:32 > 0:16:36but you can live well with dementia and you can have fun
0:16:36 > 0:16:40and you can socialise and you can be the same as everybody else.
0:16:42 > 0:16:46I find, if he's down or if he says, I don't want to do this,
0:16:46 > 0:16:49I say go and play the piano for half an hour.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53He'll go down and play perhaps for three quarters of an hour to an hour
0:16:53 > 0:16:57and he'll come out and say, "Shall we have a cup of coffee?"
0:16:57 > 0:17:01- It is amazing how it... - It's fantastic.
0:17:01 > 0:17:06It is amazing. That's one thing he hasn't forgotten.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08He hasn't forgotten.
0:17:08 > 0:17:12# Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag
0:17:12 > 0:17:14# And smile... #
0:17:14 > 0:17:18I wouldn't like to think where we'd be now if Solace hadn't been here.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22I think I'd probably be on anti-depressants
0:17:22 > 0:17:25and I'm not a person who takes tablets.
0:17:25 > 0:17:29# What's the use of worrying. #
0:17:29 > 0:17:31To me, personally, it's been great,
0:17:31 > 0:17:37because gradually you realise that you are not alone.
0:17:37 > 0:17:42# And smile, smile, smile. #
0:17:42 > 0:17:44Excellent!
0:17:47 > 0:17:51# Happy birthday to you
0:17:51 > 0:17:54# Happy birthday to you
0:17:54 > 0:17:58# Happy birthday, dear Bob
0:17:58 > 0:18:00# Happy birthday to you. #
0:18:00 > 0:18:03Hip-hip.
0:18:03 > 0:18:08Not everyone can be cared for by close family in their own home.
0:18:08 > 0:18:09Yes! Da iawn Bob!
0:18:09 > 0:18:14All the residents at 'Gwynfa', near Caernarfon, have dementia.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18Here they're determined to give them individual care and understanding,
0:18:18 > 0:18:21and the staff have been given specialised training sessions
0:18:21 > 0:18:25with dementia expert Joan Woods.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27We're looking at communication today.
0:18:27 > 0:18:31And we're looking at it in a more specific way
0:18:31 > 0:18:34because it really is about how we work with people with dementia
0:18:34 > 0:18:37and enable them to communicate their needs
0:18:37 > 0:18:44and to enable us to be able to communicate effectively with them.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48'The staff are very enthusiastic'
0:18:48 > 0:18:51and have really taken on board a lot of the things
0:18:51 > 0:18:53that we've talked about
0:18:53 > 0:18:54at our previous session.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56Ideal! I'm sure they would.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00There's already a bit of evidence of good practice happening here.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03It's nice to go back there, Annabel.
0:19:03 > 0:19:04- What is that?- The...
0:19:06 > 0:19:11I thought it was going to come. It's the... What's it called?
0:19:11 > 0:19:15It's harder to concentrate when we're older.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17We have to put more effort into it.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20But when we've got dementia, it's even harder,
0:19:20 > 0:19:23because if the connections aren't happening in the brain,
0:19:23 > 0:19:27you're not going to come out with the answer straight away.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31That's what people are going through every day.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34This is my wife.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36Eira.
0:19:38 > 0:19:42The love of my life.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44Pwy ydi hon?
0:19:46 > 0:19:48Mae o wedi upsetio.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51If a person becomes anxious
0:19:51 > 0:19:55and you're finding that you can't actually help them,
0:19:55 > 0:19:58that you can't get through,
0:19:58 > 0:20:02you feel sometimes for them that you can't get through to them
0:20:02 > 0:20:05or they can't actually get through to you, so it's...
0:20:06 > 0:20:09We find that quite hard.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13You feel for the person inside, you know?
0:20:15 > 0:20:18You should have some stories about France, Annabel.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20Well, I used to go and come back, sort of thing.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24- You've got a nice few pictures of Paris in there.- Yes, there are.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26Why did you go to Paris?
0:20:27 > 0:20:31- Holiday or for work?- No, it was a holiday.- Holidays?- Yes.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35You're constantly asking yourself, am I doing the job right?
0:20:35 > 0:20:39The training teaches you that you are doing it right.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41There's a proper way of doing it.
0:20:41 > 0:20:47But what works for one might not work for another.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50Put your hand on here and push up for me, Olwen.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53Un, dau, tri. Well done.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57There are a lot of really good people out there
0:20:57 > 0:21:03who want to do better, who really want to make life much more valuable
0:21:03 > 0:21:08and give opportunity for people with dementia to achieve.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Jerry and Shirley are off to the Alzheimer's Society Centre
0:21:20 > 0:21:23for their second visit of the week.
0:21:23 > 0:21:27Today the activity is 'Singing for the Brain'.
0:21:28 > 0:21:33You're in the house on your own with each other for many hours.
0:21:33 > 0:21:37It's so nice to come out to sing and to chat to other people.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42# Ba-ra-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba
0:21:42 > 0:21:45# Dooby-dooby-dooby-dooby-doo
0:21:45 > 0:21:47# Hey Mr Miller
0:21:47 > 0:21:52# What a swing that you bring to the band. #
0:21:52 > 0:21:57Tutor Helen Vincent established the 'Singing for the Brain' sessions here two years ago,
0:21:57 > 0:21:59the first in Wales.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02'Singing for the Brain' is for people
0:22:02 > 0:22:04in early or middle stages of dementia and their carers.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07The idea is they come along with their carers
0:22:07 > 0:22:11and they can forget about all their troubles that they're having at home
0:22:11 > 0:22:15and they come and have an enjoyable hour singing with groups of other people.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18# Did you ever see a... #
0:22:19 > 0:22:23You need to be able to open your mouth and for a sound to come out.
0:22:23 > 0:22:28It doesn't matter whether you're perfectly in tune,
0:22:28 > 0:22:31it doesn't matter whether you have a good voice or not.
0:22:31 > 0:22:35It's just about being in a room full of people singing
0:22:35 > 0:22:37and being part of that.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41# You are my sunshine
0:22:41 > 0:22:45# My only sunshine
0:22:45 > 0:22:48# You make my happy
0:22:48 > 0:22:51# When skies are grey. #
0:22:51 > 0:22:56I notice each and every one of the people who are sufferers
0:22:56 > 0:23:00and I can see a difference in most people.
0:23:00 > 0:23:02# Please don't take my sunshine... #
0:23:02 > 0:23:06This is the little bit of magic that seems to happen with singing generally
0:23:06 > 0:23:09and 'Singing for the Brain' specifically.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11Even though these people have got dementia,
0:23:11 > 0:23:14they are capable of learning new songs
0:23:14 > 0:23:16and then remembering them from week to week.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19We've had cases of people who've actually lost the ability to speak,
0:23:19 > 0:23:21but they can still sing.
0:23:21 > 0:23:25# You never know dear
0:23:25 > 0:23:27# How much I love you. #
0:23:27 > 0:23:31We feel that we are definitely having help.
0:23:31 > 0:23:35We go religiously on a Wednesday.
0:23:35 > 0:23:43# Please don't take my sunshine away. #
0:23:46 > 0:23:49- There.- I told you I loved you.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00In her role as Scientific Advisor for Alzheimer's Research UK,
0:24:00 > 0:24:03Julie Williams is on her way to Westminster
0:24:03 > 0:24:07to address an important and influential audience
0:24:07 > 0:24:11of movers and shakers in scientific research funding throughout the UK.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18The Government has put more money into dementia
0:24:18 > 0:24:20over the last few years,
0:24:20 > 0:24:25but it's not into the research, into the causes, into the mechanisms
0:24:25 > 0:24:27that lead to new therapies that can prevent the disease.
0:24:27 > 0:24:31That's where we want the funding. That's what we're trying to highlight today.
0:24:31 > 0:24:37It's where this funding needs to be directed to which is important.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43The meeting coincides with a report that highlights
0:24:43 > 0:24:46the lack of scientists working in Alzheimer's research,
0:24:46 > 0:24:49and the aim is to encourage others to join the cause.
0:24:49 > 0:24:53I've spent the last few years trying to persuade people
0:24:53 > 0:24:59who have expertise in endocitosis, or expertise in immunity,
0:24:59 > 0:25:02to come and work on Alzheimer's disease.
0:25:02 > 0:25:04We know what we need to aim at now.
0:25:04 > 0:25:09We just need to get bums on seats and we need to get more scientists working on these areas.
0:25:09 > 0:25:11It's pretty simple.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14We are pretty optimistic that maybe in ten years' time,
0:25:14 > 0:25:19we will have therapies that result from this investment. Thank you.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22APPLAUSE
0:25:22 > 0:25:26These are small steps and you never know what will happen
0:25:26 > 0:25:30but you just have to keep saying the same thing
0:25:30 > 0:25:36and get your message over and eventually someone with the power to change things will do that.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39MUSIC: "Andare" by Ludovico Einaudi
0:25:43 > 0:25:45SHE SPEAKS WELSH
0:25:45 > 0:25:48Another piece of the support jigsaw is befriending.
0:25:48 > 0:25:52Care support worker Ann takes Jerry out once a week
0:25:52 > 0:25:55giving his wife Shirley a welcome break from caring 24/7.
0:25:59 > 0:26:04Been a befriender with Shirley and Jerry for about five months
0:26:04 > 0:26:08and Shirley was offered it before that.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11But she felt that she wanted to cope herself
0:26:11 > 0:26:13so she didn't accept it
0:26:13 > 0:26:17and then when eventually she realised that it was getting harder,
0:26:17 > 0:26:21we went in as a befriender and now she realises that
0:26:21 > 0:26:23she needed it before.
0:26:23 > 0:26:29- My old golfing partner.- You know him, do you?- Yes.- That's lovely. - Known each other for years.- Yeah?
0:26:29 > 0:26:32- Yes, he's my old golfing partner. - I know, it's OK, yeah.
0:26:32 > 0:26:37- Do you remember?- Yeah.- Yeah?- Yeah. - There we are, my old mate.
0:26:40 > 0:26:45Dementia doesn't mean that people can't do things that they used to do
0:26:45 > 0:26:48when they were younger, when they were able to do it.
0:26:48 > 0:26:53We try and get people out as much as we can and just get them back
0:26:53 > 0:26:56to having a normal life as possible.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00- Take care, mate.- One, two three.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02'I hope I'm like that when I'm 90.' SHE CHUCKLES
0:27:11 > 0:27:13Here at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay,
0:27:13 > 0:27:16those who came together and became friends
0:27:16 > 0:27:18at the Making A Difference sessions in Whitchurch,
0:27:18 > 0:27:21still meet up each and every week.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26The main object of this is to make this environment
0:27:26 > 0:27:28as normal as possible.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31So they go out, they can have lunch before they come in.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33They come in, they'll sing, they'll dance,
0:27:33 > 0:27:34whatever they want to go and do.
0:27:34 > 0:27:40But you should not be able to tell in this room who has got the illness and who hasn't.
0:27:42 > 0:27:47It's cohesive, it's supportive. It's...it's friendship.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52Whilst we wait for the scientists to develop a cure,
0:27:52 > 0:27:55one in three of us over the age of 65
0:27:55 > 0:27:58will need this kind of crucial support,
0:27:58 > 0:28:00to help us live well with dementia.
0:28:01 > 0:28:07# Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag
0:28:07 > 0:28:12# And smile, smile, smile. #
0:28:12 > 0:28:14You can still have a life, yes,
0:28:14 > 0:28:16and I think if they hadn't been here,
0:28:16 > 0:28:19a lot of us would have...fallen by the wayside
0:28:19 > 0:28:23more often than we do. You know?
0:28:23 > 0:28:27# What's the use of worrying? #
0:28:27 > 0:28:32'I'd have been in limbo, and been very frustrated. Whereas...'
0:28:32 > 0:28:37I'm alive, and still love life and so does he.
0:28:37 > 0:28:43# And smile, smile, smile. #
0:28:46 > 0:28:49SHE STARTS SINGING # In Dublin's fair city
0:28:49 > 0:28:52HE JOINS IN # Where the girls are so pretty,
0:28:52 > 0:28:57# I first laid my eyes on sweet Molly Malone
0:28:57 > 0:29:02# As she wheeled her wheelbarrow Through the streets broad and narrow
0:29:02 > 0:29:07# Crying, "Cockles and mussels Alive, alive, oh." #
0:29:07 > 0:29:09Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd