Emmerdale tackles vascular dementia diagnosis
Emmerdale are tackling the issue of vascular dementia, with Ashley Thomas (played by John Middleton) being diagnosed with the condition.
In the UK alone, 850,000 people are living with a form of dementia. It is estimated nearly 150,000 people have vascular dementia which is caused by problems with blood supply to the brain – for example after a stroke, or due to a history of vascular disease.
Alzheimer's Society is advising on scripts to ensure Ashley's symptoms and diagnosis show a realistic representation of someone living with dementia. A Dementia Support Worker has also visited the Emmerdale set to advise John Middleton on how best to portray some of the trickier scenes in Ashley's dementia journey.
In the coming months the storyline will explore how Ashley and his loved ones will come to terms with the diagnosis and how it will impact his future.
Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive of Alzheimer's Society, said: "We're delighted Emmerdale are featuring a dementia storyline. There are 850,000 people with dementia in the UK – many of whom still face a huge amount of stigma and misunderstanding which programmes like Emmerdale can help to address.
"We've been privileged to work closely with the producers and script writers to ensure the representation of Ashley's diagnosis is accurate and we hope the show's audience will identify with his journey. Properly scripted storylines like these can be a useful way to help many more people understand the impact of dementia."
Kate Oates, Series Producer at Emmerdale, said: "Dementia is one of the biggest health issues we face today, whether being diagnosed ourselves, or through a member of the family or a friend being affected. John Middleton is a fantastic actor and in Ashley he has created a rounded, multi-faceted character, so although giving him this story was a difficult decision, as there is as yet no cure for dementia, we knew we were giving it to a safe pair of hands and know John's portrayal will be realistic and deeply affecting."
John Middleton, who plays Ashley Thomas in Emmerdale, said: "The help Emmerdale are getting from Alzheimer's Society is invaluable as I believe very strongly that for the sake of the people with this condition, their families, friends and carers we need to get this story right."
Further information
If you've been affected by this storyline, Alzheimer's Society provides a National Dementia Helpline which you can call on 0300 222 11 22. Find out more about the Helpline here.
You can also find out more about vascular dementia in our online factsheet.
