Songs and support mark Dementia Action Week in Tower Hamlets

Tower Hamlets Council today began a week of activities raising awareness of a deadly brain disease.

Dementia, a set of symptoms that may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking and language, affects 5.25 per cent of people aged 65 in the borough, a rate significantly higher than in other parts of London and England (4.49pc and 4.33pc respectively). Common causes include Alzheimer’s disease or strokes.

Together with the local branch of charity Alzheimer’s Society, the council hosted the first of two drop-in sessions today, offering advice and guidance to anyone looking for information on dementia.

Tomorrow’s sessions, which run at Poplar Baths in East India Dock Road and Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, were also organised to coincide with Dementia Action Week.

A mass “singing for the brain” session takes place at the Aquatic Centre, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, 2pm-4pm Thursday.

For details, email joe.ellis@alzheimers.org.uk or call 020 8121 5626.