Young carer opens up on mum's devastating early dementia diagnosis

A young carer who looked after his Dementia-stricken mother when he was just a schoolboy has told of the devastating impact of the disease.Ross McNamee was only 13 when his 'best mate in the world' and mum Angie was diagnosed with vascular Dementia and young onset Alzheimer’s in her 40s.The 27-year-old DJ, from Stepps, who has now raised £136k for research into the illness, told the Daily Record how it has had a massive effect on his life.He said: "My mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and Dementia in her late 40's.

It was devastating because she had so much more life to live and her diagnosis forced me to grow up when I was only 13. "The past few years have been the hardest thing in the world because her illness has robbed me of even having so much as a conversation with her, but I'll be forever grateful for everything she's done for me and she was and always will be my best mate in the world."So a few years after she got ill, I took time off work so I could spend more with her. "When I went back to work, I took a job in a care home because I wanted to learn more about Alzheimer’s and how to cope and care for my mum. "I wanted to make life as comfortable as possible for her."I learned a lot from my mum and I take a lot of my characteristics from her, so I’ll always have memories of the person she was before her illness. "She would make everyone laugh and smile everywhere she went.

She would light up every room she walked into and she was one of a kind.""Having to deal with this so young made me appreciate everything in life so much more - especially the memories I have with her.

Those will stay with me forever."Ross cares for his Angie, who used to run her own salon,alongside his dad, Rob and older brother Callum.He