Half of the adults in our region think dementia is a condition plagued by stigma, twice that associated with cancer.

That's according to the Alzheimer’s Society - but is that the reality for sufferers?

Robert Gibbs has cared for his wife Brenda in Maidstone since she was diagnosed with the condition three years ago.

He said: "She forgets everything but you wouldn’t know she had Alzheimer’s if you met her on the street. She can talk normally - she hasn’t lost anything other than parts of her memory."

He is surprised by the latest research, which claims there is twice as much stigma associated with dementia than cancer.

According to the report - which was launched on Tuesday by the author Terry Pratchett, who has the condition - people with dementia feel ostracised in their communities.

Sufferers reported losing friends, neighbours crossing the street to avoid them and professionals dismissing symptoms as 'old age'.

Mr Gibbs and his wife have escaped this kind of treatment but Brenda is one of the lucky ones as she was given a quick diagnosis - unlike a third of people with the condition that never receive one.

Yet Mr Gibb did agree agree with the Alzheimer’s Society that there needs to be more awareness.

One of his colleagues was once told by a young man that people with dementia should be put down and it is attitudes like this the society is aiming to stamp out.

Chris Wyatt, the Alzheimer's Society's area manager south east, said: "We will lead the fight against stigma and we want to see it reduced by half in five years."

He added: "This will need investment in national awareness campaigns as well as requiring the Government, charities, services and employers to work together to make this a reality."

Terry Pratchett said: "The first step is to talk openly about dementia because it’s a fact, well enshrined in folklore, that if we are to kill the demon then first we have to say its name."