Early warning signs of dementia after Pauline Quirke's heartbreaking diagnosis

Actress Pauline Quirk announced that she would be retiring at the age of 65-years-old due to a recent dementia diagnosis.

Steve Sheen, who married Pauline in 1996, recently shared that Pauline was first diagnosed with the condition in 2021 but kept it private until now. In a statement on Tuesday (21st January), Steve shared: "It is with a heavy heart that I announce my wife Pauline’s decision to step back from all professional and commercial duties due to her diagnosis of dementia in 2021.

"Pauline has been an inspiration through her work in the film and TV industry, her charity endeavours and as the founder of the very successful Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts."

He continued: "In drama, her BAFTA-nominated role in The Sculptress, was outstanding, as was her role as the mysterious Susan Wright in ITV's Broadchurch. Demonstrating her acting versatility, she also starred or appeared in more than 60 TV and film productions, including Carrie's War, North and South, Casualty, Cold Blood, Thieving Headmistress, My Family, You, Me and the Apocalypse, and of course Emmerdale."

Pauline was best known for her role as the feisty Sharon Theodopolopodous on long-running sitcom Birds Of A Feather.

Fran Vandelli, dementia lead for Bupa Care Services Richmond Villages described dementia as: "An umbrella term that describes a set of symptoms affecting your brain, causing problems with memory, thinking, and communication, leading to the loss of the skills required for everyday living. " She said there are more than 200 subtypes of dementia existing.

The most common types include Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia and mixed dementia, according to Dementia UK. Lead-charity Alzheimer's society have shared the early symptoms to look out for to receive a diagnosis as soon as possible.

What are the early-stage symptoms of dementia?

• Memory problems - A person may struggle to recall recent events or keep losing items such as keys and glasses around the house. It's often the first and main symptom in early Alzheimer's disease.
• Difficulties in thinking things through and planning - They may get confused more easily and struggle to plan or make complex decisions. This can largely involve dealing with financial decisions.
• Language and communication - A person may find it difficult to find the right word in a conversation or struggle to follow what is being said to them. Speech can also be affected when someone who has vascular dementia has had a stroke.
• Poor orientation - They may no longer recognise their whereabouts and get lost even in places familiar to them.
• Visual-perceptual difficulties - This refers to problems judging distances. For instance, they may struggle when it comes to using stairs.
• Changes in mood or emotion - They may experience more frequent feelings of anxiety, sadness, or frightened. It's also quite common for them to become more irritable, particularly in their frustration at losing their abilities. They can become quite withdrawn and lose interest.

Unfortunately, there is no current cure for dementia. According to the NHS, medicines such as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and memantine, are sometimes prescribed to help temporarily reduce symptoms.

In 2022, Pauline was honoured with an MBE in Queen Elizabeth II's Birthday Honours list for her services to young people, the entertainment industry, and charity.

Speaking on her ITV morning show, Lorraine Kelly said: "This is really sad news this morning. Pauline Quirke, lovely Pauline, stepping down from acting after 50 years because she's been diagnosed with dementia,

"We just send all our love. She's a brilliant woman, an absolute delight. I've met her many times and it's just really sad. But she'll be doing a lot of good, as she has in her whole life, and she'll continue to do so."