A NEW campaign challenging Scots to “think differently about dementia” has been launched by Health Secretary Neil Gray.

The initiative, from the Scottish Government and council organisation Cosla, comes after figures from the National Records of Scotland revealed Inverclyde has the joint highest rate of dementia-related deaths of anywhere in the country over the last five years.

Dementia affects an estimated 90,000 people in Scotland, with the sufferers experiencing cognitive decline which can impact their memory, language and thinking abilities.

However the Rethink Dementia campiagn urges people to “think differently” about a dementia diagnosis, with Mr Gray saying there are “many practical steps” that can help people “stay well for longer”.

He launched the campaign the day figures showed that Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia caused a total of 6,491 deaths in Scotland in 2023 – up by 3 per cent on the previous year.

The death rate in Inverclyde was 148.8 per 100,000 people, with 215 deaths in the area linked to dementia since 2019.

Mr Gray said when a friend or relative is diganosed with the condition, it is “natural not to know what to do”, adding it can be an “upsetting and daunting time” for loved ones.

But he stated: “It’s important for all of us to play a supportive role in helping our friends and family."