Pauline Quirke was diagnosed with dementia in 2021 (file) (Image: Getty)
Birds of a Feather star Pauline Quirke has been – and a doctor has now highlighted the early warning signs of the disease.
The 65-year-old actress, whose career has spanned five decades, will ‘step away from all commercial and professional duties’ to spend time with family, her husband Steve Sheen announced. Quirke, who played Sharon Theodopolopodous in the original series and appeared in a revival of the sitcom from 2014 to 2017, also starred in , Broadchurch and The Sculptress.
Dr Stephen Cabral took to to share what he believes is the ‘number one’ early warning sign of . He explained that while misremembering names, words or memories was a sign of the disease, this was also common in people who do not have dementia or Alzheimer’s.
“It’s actually – number one – is getting lost more easily,” he said. “If you’re younger and stressed, you forget where you put your keys, you forget someone’s name, you forget the next thing you were supposed to do, [that’s] not uncommon. What would be uncommon, even when you’re younger, is to say, ‘I don’t know where I am right now. I’m lost.'”.
Dr Cabral highlighted a crucial red flag for dementia, citing the inability of previously confident drivers to “pull into a spot and park straight.”
:
Social media users were eager to share their personal experiences with dementia. One person confessed: “I turned my dad in to the dmv and his doctor and he kept passing tests. He would get lost for hours while driving, fender benders, and other drivers honking at him….”
Another reflected on their father’s symptoms: “Looking back at my dad’s, this is 100% accurate,” remarking on their disbelief at his difficulties in locating a house visited countless times. Meanwhile a third chimed in: “The biggest sign with my father was he couldn’t tell time from a watch or clock anymore. Number one item that showed the sign.”
Speaking about his wife’s diagnosis, Sheen said: “‘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.”
He added: “We kindly request privacy and understanding for Pauline and our family during this difficult period. For the time being we will not be engaging in interviews or making further statements, since Pauline just wants to spend time with her family, children and grandchildren.”
Quirke, from Hackney, east London, shares a 30-year-old son with Sheen named Charlie and a daughter – Emily, 40 – from a previous marriage.
Hilary Evans-Newton, Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, commented on the recent disclosure: “We are saddened to hear of Pauline’s diagnosis and send our best wishes to her, Steve and the wider family. The family should be praised for making the brave decision to make her diagnosis public, which will not only provide more freedom for them, but also raise such vital awareness of the condition.”
“We’re so grateful that Pauline and Steve have pledged to support our work when the time is right. We look forward to working with them to raise further awareness of dementia and funds for research.”
The NHS lists symptoms of dementia which include becoming confused about time and place, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, issues completing familiar tasks, struggles with conversation or finding the right word, and mood changes.