Dementia UK and The Menopause Charity have published advice on the crossover symptoms of both young onset dementia and menopause, after former TV presenter Fiona Phillips disclosed her Alzheimer’s diagnosis. The shared symptoms mean that it is difficult for some women to spot the signs of dementia and Alzheimer’s, and instead mistake those symptoms for menopause. It comes as Phillips has revealed that she has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the most common type of dementia, at the age of 62. The former breakfast TV presenter first noticed symptoms of “crippling anxiety” and “brain fog”, but since Phillips had not experienced this before, she and her family thought it might be menopausal symptoms. After undergoing Hormone Therapy Treatment (HRT) to alleviate her menopausal symptoms, Phillips’s brain fog remained. This prompted Phillips and her husband to seek further help, including months of cognitive tests before a lumbar puncture to assess spinal fluid revealed she had Alzheimer’s. Dementia is an umbrella term for a range of progressive conditions that affect the brain, while Alzheimer’s is a specific disease. Paul Edwards, Director of Clinical Services at Dementia UK, said in a statement that many people are unaware of the shared symptoms of the conditions. “For some women, dementia and Alzheimer’s symptoms may develop at the same time as the perimenopause or menopause which can bring additional challenges when it comes to seeking a diagnosis,” he explained. Dementia UK and The Menopause Charity have worked together to create an information leaflet on the similarities and differences between young onset dementia and menopause and perimenopause. While dementia is most common in people over the age of 65, an estimated 70,800 people in the UK are living with young onset dementia, where symptoms begin before 65. Common menopause symptoms include changes in periods, hot flashes, fatigue, mood changes, anxiety, stress, brain fog, vaginal dryness and more. Brain fog is a very common menopause symptom, and women often say that their brains feel like “cotton wool” while experiencing it. The symptom can make it difficult to recall words, complete multiple tasks or find themselves losing things. This can affect concentration, word-finding, memory and multitasking, impacting their emotions and overall well being day to day. Since these symptoms may also occur in dementia, some women become concerned that they are showing signs of young onset dementia. According to Dementia UK, though, brain fog is not typically the first symptom of dementia, so there are other initial signs to be aware of if you are concerned about dementia or Alzheimer’s. Early signs of dementia are more likely to be changes in vision and spatial awareness, language problems and changes in behaviour. It is typical that family members, friends and work colleagues may notice these changes first, often before the person themselves. Both Dementia UK and The Menopause Charity advise that because it is difficult to know what these symptoms are being caused by, it is important to see a GP to address any concerns. For more information, you can access an information leaflet produced by both charities here. If you would like to speak to a dementia specialist Admiral Nurse about young onset dementia and perimenopause or menopause, or any other aspect of dementia, can call our free Helpline on 0800 888 6678 or by emailing helpline@dementiauk.org. Read More Fiona Phillips, 62, reveals she has Alzheimer’s disease Fiona Phillips explains why she hid Alzheimer’s diagnosis from her children Woman exits plane after tirade about passenger who is ‘not real’: ‘Final Destination vibes’ Fiona Phillips Alzheimer’s diagnosis at 62: 7 ways to reduce your risk Fiona Phillips explains why she hid Alzheimer’s diagnosis from her children Fiona Phillips, 62, reveals she has Alzheimer’s disease

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Using existing drugs to treat cervical cancer before standard treatment could lead to a 35% reduction in the risk of relapse or death, a new study suggests. Researchers from the UCL Cancer Institute and UCLH looked into whether a short course of induction chemotherapy (IC), where a drug is used to destroy as many cancer cells as possible, before chemoradiation (CRT), could help with this. Here’s everything you need to know about the findings… What is cervical cancer? According to the NHS website, cervical cancer is a type of cancer found anywhere near the cervix – the opening between the vagina and the womb (uterus), which is also known as the neck of the womb. Most cervical cancers grow very slowly and are caused by an infection from specific types of human papillomavirus (HPV) and mostly affect women under the age of 45. According to Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, symptoms include vaginal bleeding that is unusual to you, changes to vaginal discharge, discomfort during sex and pain in your lower back or pelvis. Changes to cells can be spotted by a cervical screening, and then treated before they turn into cancer. There are around 3,200 new cases every year in the UK, with the five-year survival rate being around 70%, according to Cancer Research UK. CRT has been the standard treatment for cervical cancer patients since 1999, but even though there have been overall significant developments in radiation therapy techniques, up to 30% of people experience their cancer coming back. What did the research involve? Over a 10-year period, 500 patients who had been diagnosed with cervical cancer – that was large enough to see without a microscope but hadn’t spread to other parts of the body – took part in the Interlace trial at hospitals in the UK, Mexico, India, Italy and Brazil. Researchers looked into whether a short course of IC before CRT could reduce rates of relapse and death. What results were found? After five years, researchers discovered that 80% of the people who received a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy were alive, whilst 73% had not seen their cancer return or spread. A major benefit, according to researchers, is that it can be incorporated into standard of care treatment relatively quickly, because cheap, accessible and already-approved ingredients such as carboplatin and paclitaxel are needed for IC. “Our trial shows that this short course of additional chemotherapy delivered immediately before the standard CRT can reduce the risk of the cancer returning or death by 35%,” said Dr Mary McCormack, lead investigator of the trial from UCL Cancer Institute and UCLH. “This is the biggest improvement in outcome in this disease in over 20 years. “I’m incredibly proud of all the patients who participated in the trial; their contribution has allowed us to gather the evidence needed to improve treatment of cervical cancer patients everywhere. “We couldn’t have done this without the generous support of Cancer Research UK.” Why is the research important? Dr Iain Foulkes, executive director of research and innovation at Cancer Research UK, said: “Timing is everything when you’re treating cancer. The simple act of adding induction chemotherapy to the start of chemoradiation treatment for cervical cancer has delivered remarkable results in this trial. “A growing body of evidence is showing the value of additional rounds of chemotherapy before other treatments like surgery and radiotherapy in several other cancers. “Not only can it reduce the chances of cancer coming back, it can be delivered quickly using drugs already available worldwide. “We’re excited for the improvements this trial could bring to cervical cancer treatment and hope short courses of induction chemotherapy will be rapidly adopted in the clinic.”

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