A young mother diagnosed with dementia at only 41 is living in fear that she will forget her teenage daughter as doctors predict her condition will deteriorate in just five years. Kelly Watson, of Gateshead in Tyne and Wear, started having problems three years ago when she began struggling with her words and co-ordination. Despite regular trips to GPs, it was never suggested she might have dementia as she was too young. Most likely she was bipolar or depressed. But after tests and a brain scan, she was hit with the horrifying news of early-onset dementia on her 41st birthday on June 23 last year. Now she is terrified of forgetting her 17-year-old daughter Holly and said the joys of watching her grow up had 'all been stolen from me'. Kelly Watson, 41, (right) said she is scared about forgetting her 17-year-old daughter, Holly (pictured left) Since being diagnosed with dementia on her 41st birthday, Kelly relies on her mother Moira to wash her hair . Kelly said the joys of watching Holly grow up; graduate, marry and have children had been taken from her . Kelly told theSunday People: 'Doctors predict my mind will deteriorate in a matter of years. I will forget I'm a mum, forget my beautiful girl Holly. 'I ­wanted to see her graduate, get married and have kids. It's all been stolen from me.' The mother-of-one now attends a dementia support group five days a week and is the youngest by 20 years. Until 2011, Kelly worked as a clerical officer in the civil service in Longbenton, Tyne and Wear, and lived with her partner and Holly. But she developed uncharacteristic mood swings and started slurring her speech. Her relationship broke down and in February last year she had to quit her job. She could not write and kept losing things such as her purse and keys. Confused and unable to ­afford her house, she and Holly moved in with her mother, Moira, nearby. Kelly said: 'My mum started helping me dress as I struggled. She even had to wash my hair and shave my legs for me.' After brain scans and cognitive tests, the devastating news revealed the dementia diagnosis. Kelly told the Sunday People: 'We were shattered. With so much life ahead of me it seemed so unfair. 'How do you tell your own daughter there will come a time that I may not remember who she is?' After her condition deteriorated, Kelly and Holly moved in with her mother, Moira, nearby . Kelly, who tries to keep her brain active with quizzes, said she felt lucky to have the love of Moira and Holly . Her mother, Moira, was angry they had to 'beg' for a year and a half to get a scan and is now hoping specialists can give the family an exact diagnosis of Kelly's condition. The 62-year-old said: 'At first they just thought she was depressed and anxious, but I knew there was something more wrong. 'I felt it in my gut, believed she was suffering from some type of dementia. 'I begged people for help but they didn't listen, they just kept telling me she was too young to have it.' She added: 'It took years before they even diagnosed dementia. If we hadn't have pushed for scans, they would still be saying she was just depressed.' Now Moira is hoping to send her daughter to a specialist clinic in London to help the family get the precise diagnosis they have been waiting years for. They also have no treatment for Kelly. They are hoping to raise £2,000 to go to a private clinic in London. Friends will be holding a fundraising event in Heworth, in Tyne and Wear, tomorrow. To donate, visit Kelly's Go Fund Me page. Kelly is living in fear of not recognising her teenage daughter Holly, with whom she has a close bond . Kelly said fighting dementia had become a 'full time job' but felt lucky to have the support of her loving family . Her mother, Moira, was angry they had to 'beg' for a year and a half to get a scan to reveal the diagnosis .
Kelly Watson began having problems with coordination and speech in 2011 . Despite regular trips to GPs, never thought she had dementia as too young . But after tests and a brain scan, hit with horrifying news on 41st birthday . Now terrified of forgetting her daughter Holly, 17, as condition will worsen . Said the joys of watching her grow up had all been 'stolen' from her .