Doctors told my husband, 51, he was depressed after he began slowly losing his spark - but I knew something wasn't right. His diagnosis changed our lives forever

'What's wrong with Dad?' was the heartbreaking question Natasha Young, 50, had been hoping one of her children would never ask.

But after months of slowly watching her husband, then 51, slowly lose his spark, it was only a matter of time before her then 21-year-old son began noticing it too.

By late 2019, even Natasha's young daughters, Amelia, seven, and 10-year-old Isla, were curious why their fun-loving father no longer seemed interested in family bike rides on the weekend.

In the week, 51-year-old Gary, then working as a self-employed joiner, was coming home reporting that he 'didn't feel right' and that simple tasks were suddenly challenging.

Doctors were certain at the time that Gary's shift in mood was a clear sign of depression and prescribed him a course of anti-depressants to help improve his mood.

But instinctively, Natasha, knew 'it was more than that', and after four months of repeated calls to the doctors during the Coronavirus lockdown , a face-to-face appointment was finally booked for Gary at a memory clinic.

A comprehensive test and subsequent MRI would reveal the striking extent of Gary's cognitive decline. Gary, who at that stage was aware that this was becoming something serious, was becoming increasingly more 'anxious' without an answer.

Standing in their kitchen at their home in Berwick Upon Tweed in 2022, the pair received a phone call with the news they were never expecting. Aged 51, Gary had Alzheimer's disease.

Standing in their kitchen at their home in Berwick Upon Tweed in 2022, Natasha and Gary (both pictured) received a phone call with the news they were never expecting. Aged 51, Gary had Alzheimer's disease

At the time, Natasha already had a six-year-old daughter Amber, from a previous relationship and just two years later they welcomed Nathan, now aged 25, followed by their two daughters Isla, born in 2011, and Amelia, in July 2014. Pictured: Gary and Natasha with Nathan, Isla and Amelia

'Never in a million years did I ever think he would have dementia or Alzheimer's because at that age you just wouldn't think about anything like that and I've never heard of anybody young getting it,' Natasha said

'Never in a million years did I ever think he would have dementia or Alzheimer's because at that age you just wouldn't think about anything like that and I've never heard of anybody young getting it,' Natasha said.

'In my naive little world I thought it was impossible to get at that age. Gary's always had a six-pack, he's never taken drugs, never smoked in his life, hardly ever drank.

'It was a relief in some ways that we knew we hadn't been completely losing it but at the same time our entire lives just stopped.'

Everyone experiences dementia differently. Use this checklist to help you make a note of your symptoms before you talk to your GP.

When Natasha and Gary were first introduced via a mutual friend 27 years ago, they were surprised that their paths had not crossed sooner.

The pair grew up on the same street and even went to the same primary school, and it wasn't long before they became inseparable.

At the time, Natasha already had a six-year-old daughter Amber, from a previous relationship and just two years later they welcomed Nathan, now aged 25, followed by their two daughters Isla, born in 2011, and Amelia, in July 2014.

'Gary and I have thankfully always had a really close and tight relationship. Of course we've had our bickering moments, but our relationship has been solid. We did everything together,' said Natasha.

For several years, they were the picture-perfect family. Natasha re-trained as a teacher, while Gary's self-started joiner business was making great strides.

But towards the end of 2019, Natasha began to notice that her husband appeared different.

She recalled: 'He kept coming home and just saying "I don't know what's wrong with me today. I struggled to measure something or I went to the wrong job."

'He was getting things mixed up, he was a little distant, a bit quiet and a bit down.

'I started thinking that perhaps he had a brain tumour or something has happened to his brain, but never in a million years did I ever think about Alzheimer's.'

While Natasha is mourning the loss of her and Gary's future, her greatest concern is for the welfare of her two children - whom she believes have been 'really affected' by the diagnosis

Now, Gary requires 24-hour care and cannot remember his children's names. While Natasha relies on a carer in the daytime, her evenings and weekends are entirely dedicated towards looking after her husband and ensuring his needs are met

However, when they finally found the courage to go to the doctors and explain Gary's symptoms, they were battling with the delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and a lack of in-person appointments.

When the diagnosis of Alzheimer's was finally given, Natasha recalled the instant 'relief' mixed with grave anxiety of not knowing what this could possibly mean for their future.

'I sp…