'If dementia were a country it would be the world's 18th largest economy, somewhere between Turkey and Indonesia.'

Scottish broadcaster Sally Magnusson reads her moving but searingly honest account of her mother Mamie Baird's long struggle with dementia. Regarded as one of the finest journalists of her generation, Mamie Baird's whole life was a celebration of words – words that she fought to retain until the very end. Married to writer and broadcaster Magnus Magnusson, the working-class Scot was known for her witty, outrageous and fun-loving stories, her love of music and of life itself. As well as chronicling the anguish, the frustrations and the unexpected laughs that Sally and her sisters experienced while caring for their mother for eight years until her death in 2012, Sally seeks understanding from scientists, doctors, philosophers and politicians in the face of one of the greatest challenges of our times.

In today's episode: despite the tell-tale warning signs, Sally and her family are still doing their best to ignore the truth.

Abridged by: Sara Davies
Produced by: Justine Willett
Reader: Sally Magnusson Show less