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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Diagnosed with dementia at just 36 | Diagnosed with dementia at just 36 |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| By Jane Elliott Health reporter, BBC News | By Jane Elliott Health reporter, BBC News |
| Mark can no longer smile | Mark can no longer smile |
| When Mark Priddy was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at the age of just 36, he and his wife Dione decided to enjoy the time they had left. | When Mark Priddy was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at the age of just 36, he and his wife Dione decided to enjoy the time they had left. |
| They renewed their wedding vows, took a holiday together and tried to make everything as normal as possible for their two young daughters. | They renewed their wedding vows, took a holiday together and tried to make everything as normal as possible for their two young daughters. |
| But within a year Mark had been admitted to a care home and today, four years later, he cannot walk, talk or smile. | |
| In April, Dione, 40 and from Northampton, is running the London marathon to raise cash for Alzheimer's research. | |
| Cruel disease | Cruel disease |
| Dione knows that nothing can bring back her much loved husband, but hopes her efforts can help find a cure, or at least help delay the cruel disease, which took Mark from her. | Dione knows that nothing can bring back her much loved husband, but hopes her efforts can help find a cure, or at least help delay the cruel disease, which took Mark from her. |
| "I've felt helpless watching him gradually fade away but decided I could make a difference by raising money for dementia research," she said. | "I've felt helpless watching him gradually fade away but decided I could make a difference by raising money for dementia research," she said. |
| I dreaded the day he didn't smile any more, but you just seem to cope Dione Priddy | I dreaded the day he didn't smile any more, but you just seem to cope Dione Priddy |
| "Mark and I met at a circuit training class, so running in the Virgin London Marathon seems very appropriate. | "Mark and I met at a circuit training class, so running in the Virgin London Marathon seems very appropriate. |
| "The rigorous training has helped me a great deal, giving me something to focus on and knowing the money I raise will give hope to other people. | "The rigorous training has helped me a great deal, giving me something to focus on and knowing the money I raise will give hope to other people. |
| "I wish we could have done it together but you just never know what is round the corner." | "I wish we could have done it together but you just never know what is round the corner." |
| Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said that it is fund raisers like Dione, who will help them make the breakthrough so desperately needed. | Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said that it is fund raisers like Dione, who will help them make the breakthrough so desperately needed. |
| "Early onset Alzheimer's is rare and it is tragic that Mark has been affected with this dreadful disease," she said. | "Early onset Alzheimer's is rare and it is tragic that Mark has been affected with this dreadful disease," she said. |
| Mark deteriorated rapidly | Mark deteriorated rapidly |
| "We can't thank Dione enough for all her efforts to raise money for the research we fund, bringing us ever nearer to finding new preventions, treatments and an eventual cure. | "We can't thank Dione enough for all her efforts to raise money for the research we fund, bringing us ever nearer to finding new preventions, treatments and an eventual cure. |
| "There are 820,000 people in the UK living with the daily reality of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, with numbers forecast to double within a generation. More investment into research is desperately needed." | "There are 820,000 people in the UK living with the daily reality of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, with numbers forecast to double within a generation. More investment into research is desperately needed." |
| Dr Simon Ridley, research manager at the Alzheimer's Research Trust, agreed: "Early onset dementia can have the most devastating effect on people and their families, often impacting on dependent children and working parents. | Dr Simon Ridley, research manager at the Alzheimer's Research Trust, agreed: "Early onset dementia can have the most devastating effect on people and their families, often impacting on dependent children and working parents. |
| "Over 64,000 people in the UK have early onset dementia, and while research into the condition has made inroads in identifying the genetic factors that influence its development, the work remains chronically underfunded. | "Over 64,000 people in the UK have early onset dementia, and while research into the condition has made inroads in identifying the genetic factors that influence its development, the work remains chronically underfunded. |
| "If we are to offer hope to people battling with dementia so early in their lives, we have to invest in studies to develop new treatments that can stop the condition in its tracks." | "If we are to offer hope to people battling with dementia so early in their lives, we have to invest in studies to develop new treatments that can stop the condition in its tracks." |
| Dione hopes her run will raise between £2-3,000 | |
| Meanwhile Dione explained how her loving husband slips further from her. | |
| "Gradually everything has slipped away," she said. | "Gradually everything has slipped away," she said. |
| She visits Mark and sits with him. She has decorated his room with photos of their life together and believes that he still knows who she is. | She visits Mark and sits with him. She has decorated his room with photos of their life together and believes that he still knows who she is. |
| "I go six days a week and chat and read to him and hope he gets something from my visits. | "I go six days a week and chat and read to him and hope he gets something from my visits. |
| "He responds if I say his name. | "He responds if I say his name. |
| "I dreaded the day he didn't smile any more, but you just seem to cope. | "I dreaded the day he didn't smile any more, but you just seem to cope. |
| "I can't believe we used to go for walks and play pool things like that." | "I can't believe we used to go for walks and play pool things like that." |
| ALZHEIMER FACTS There are 820,000 people living with dementia in the UK today163,000 new cases of dementia occur in England and Wales each year - one every 3.2 minutesOne in three of the over 65s will die with some form of dementia | ALZHEIMER FACTS There are 820,000 people living with dementia in the UK today163,000 new cases of dementia occur in England and Wales each year - one every 3.2 minutesOne in three of the over 65s will die with some form of dementia |
| She says the illness has been particularly hard for her two daughters - Eleanor 13 and Bethany 11. | |
| Bethany finds it hard to remember Mark as he was and has to rely on video films. | Bethany finds it hard to remember Mark as he was and has to rely on video films. |
| "It was such a hard time with two small children," said Dione. "I wish I had known to help him. | "It was such a hard time with two small children," said Dione. "I wish I had known to help him. |
| "I have learnt a lot since Mark was diagnosed but wish I had known more when he was diagnosed and I could have helped support him." | "I have learnt a lot since Mark was diagnosed but wish I had known more when he was diagnosed and I could have helped support him." |
| Final diagnosis | Final diagnosis |
| She said that for two years the doctors thought Mark's problems were depression, but she said she thought he knew the truth. | She said that for two years the doctors thought Mark's problems were depression, but she said she thought he knew the truth. |
| "I think he knew more than we did," she said. "I think he was trying to cover up things such a lot. | "I think he knew more than we did," she said. "I think he was trying to cover up things such a lot. |
| "It was probably not until he was diagnosed that we realised how he was suffering. | "It was probably not until he was diagnosed that we realised how he was suffering. |
| "I did not really know what Alzheimer's was to be honest nor did Mark although he knew there was something wrong. | "I did not really know what Alzheimer's was to be honest nor did Mark although he knew there was something wrong. |
| "We used to go to church every Sunday and I can remember us both breaking down there thinking what is wrong, but we thought if there was an illness the doctors would know." | "We used to go to church every Sunday and I can remember us both breaking down there thinking what is wrong, but we thought if there was an illness the doctors would know." |
| The Alzheimer's was finally diagnosed after a barrage of tests. | The Alzheimer's was finally diagnosed after a barrage of tests. |
| Dione said she just hopes her fundraising will help someone else. | Dione said she just hopes her fundraising will help someone else. |
| "I can't help Mark, but I can be by his side. The more money that is put into research there will be a cure - there has to be." | "I can't help Mark, but I can be by his side. The more money that is put into research there will be a cure - there has to be." |