Shocked wife learns 46-year-old husband's aggression was caused by dementia

Rosemary Westwell received a phone call to say that her husband had collapsed on the street when she was pregnant with their second daughter. It was one of the earliest signs that John was unwell.

For several years Mr Westwell displayed ‘worrying’ symptoms, including a lack of empathy and frequent aggression, and was eventually diagnosed with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), aged 46.

Twenty-five years later, he can no longer speak or move and receives 24-hour care at a care home in Cambridge.

The diagnosis came as a ‘huge shock’ to the couple, who were at the time raising their two children. Ms Westwell said: “When John collapsed on the street, doctors thought it might have been an epileptic fit. But things just kept on getting worse from there. He started to have mood swings and as time went on, I noticed that he didn’t show much empathy towards our two children.

“He became difficult to manage and include in our family activities. In hindsight I realise these were all tell-tale signs. It was a very stressful time.”

Behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is characterised by progressive cell loss (atrophy) in the frontal and anterior temporal regions of the brain, leading to alterations in complex thinking, personality and behaviour.

It is frequently referred to as Pick’s disease and accounts for less than one in 20 of all dementia cases.

'John, Dementia and Me'

The couple met when Ms Westwell moved to the UK from Tasmania aged 21, after completing her music degree. She got a job as a music teacher in Peterborough and joined a Young Conservatives group, where she met Mr Westwell.

The couple quickly fell in love and were engaged after three weeks.

At this year's Alzheimer's Show (8 June), Ms Westwell spoke about her book ‘John, Dementia and Me’, and discussed how their lives were turned upside down when they received the 'shocking diagnosis'.

She said: “Dementia can only be defeated through research but when compared to other diseases, it is underfunded. I am keen to help the experts by sharing my story at this year’s Alzheimer’s Show to raise awareness of this dreadful condition.

“Words cannot describe how much I want to see better forms of diagnosis and new treatments for this condition so that other people don’t have to suffer.”

There are currently no treatments that can slow or prevent the development of dementia. The mission of Alzheimer’s Research UK is to bring about the first life-changing treatment for dementia by 2025.

Dr Laura Phipps, head of communications at the charity said: “We would like to say a big thank you to Rosemary for being such an amazing supporter of Alzheimer’s Research UK and for sharing her story in such a powerful way.

“Our work would not be possible without pioneering supporters like Rosemary, who is bravely sharing her experiences at the Alzheimer’s Show to help raise awareness about dementia.”