'I thought I had dementia when I started forgetting my sons' names'

'I thought I had dementia when I started forgetting my sons' names'Meera said she felt like she was becoming a 'moron' until finally being diagnosed seven years laterCommentsNewsHoward Lloyd Regional content editor08:50, 17 Apr 2026Updated 08:54, 17 Apr 2026View 3 ImagesMeera Mehat thought she had early onset dementia(Image: SWNS)A mum thought she had early onset dementia when she forgot her sons' names. Meera Mehat, 59, was 49 when she began finding it hard to recall words when doing presentations at work.‌The mum-of-three, from Maidenhead, Berkshire, initially put it down to work stress, until she forgot all three of her sons' names when introducing them. She feared she had early-onset dementia and went to doctors for brain scans, but when they came back clear, she was reassured it was just a sign of aging.‌Meera found the process so "frightening" that she quit her job and stopped going out - after she struggled to hold conversations with friends. She even forgot her son's birthday until a family member called her on the day - realising she never bought presents, a cake, or planned a party.‌It was only when someone suggested she went to a private doctor seven years on, when it was put down to "menopausal issues". After being given a hormone-friendly diet and hormone supplements, along with an exercise and meditation schedule, Meera - who now works as a menopause educator- noticed her memory improving.She said despite endless scans, tests, and doctors' appointments, it took seven years for someone to mention menopause to her - all the while leaving her feeling she was "going mad".View 3 ImagesMeera is mum to Jas, Kash, and Alekh(Image: SWNS)‌Meera, mum to twins Jas and Kash, 27, and Alekh, 25, said: "First, I struggled to remember stats when I was training people at work - and I had written the damn training programme."Over time, when I met friends and I'd start telling a stor...