{"id":1620,"date":"2025-03-30T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-30T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/?p=1620"},"modified":"2025-04-22T11:58:06","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T11:58:06","slug":"pixie-lott-nan-was-my-biggest-fan-until-i-lost-her-to-dementia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/30\/pixie-lott-nan-was-my-biggest-fan-until-i-lost-her-to-dementia\/","title":{"rendered":"Pixie Lott: Nan was my biggest fan \u2013 until I lost her to dementia"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\t\t\"Pixie\t<\/div>
Dementia became a huge part of my family\u2019s life and the devastation from it is staggering (Picture: Alan Chapman\/Dave Benett\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was 2014 and my guitarist James Wiseman and I went over to my Nanny Bennett\u2019s, to play her some music.<\/p>\n

Standing in front of her, by her bed, for the first time in a very long time, we saw her smile.<\/p>\n

Nanny Bennett was my dad\u2019s mum and she had been living with vascular dementia<\/a>. Her disease had taken away her ability to move or talk, so we were overwhelmed with happiness to see her smile.<\/p>\n

She had always been a big lover of music and very supportive of mine, and just then, I knew that against all odds, she remembered and felt happy.<\/p>\n

Two years before this, I had lost my Nanny Martin, from my mum\u2019s side, from vascular dementia. Dementia became a huge part of my family\u2019s life and the devastation from it is staggering.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"The\t<\/div>
I was already recording music when I was a teenager, and my entire family was so supportive (Picture: JB Lacroix\/WireImage)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nanny Martin was an amazing Nan \u2013 she was kind and strong. She brought up my Mum and her four brothers \u2013 five kids overall. She was the helm of the household while my grandad worked, and then went back to work herself. She was a chatty, kind and beautiful woman who wore lovely outfits and I still wear her shoes now.<\/p>\n

In 2003 when I was 12, I spent a month living with my grandparents while I was doing a show at the London Palladium and we had such a special time together. I remember baking with her \u2013 she loved making bread and butter pudding, apple pies and she would always have choc ices in the freezer for me.<\/p>\n

We would move from the kitchen to the living room, dancing, and she would ask me to \u2018do a little twirl\u2019 for her. <\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Young\t<\/div>
Nanny Martin was an amazing Nan \u2013 she was kind and strong (Picture: Pixie Lott)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I would spin around on the rug in the middle of the living room, and we would watch old fashioned western movies under the duvet on the sofa. These were beautiful times that I will never forget.<\/p>\n

I used to play with my nan and grandad\u2019s record player and dance around to old records I\u2019d find. They used to do ballroom dancing, and were huge fans of music \u2013 my grandad even made an appearance on the TV during my time in Strictly because of that and he said he was the talk of his local golf club!<\/p>\n

I was already recording music when I was a teenager, and my entire family was so supportive. But Nanny Martin\u2019s memory was already beginning to go.<\/p>\n

We noticed that she also began telling stories that weren\u2019t true, like ones about people cooking downstairs – but they were living in a bungalow.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Hits\t<\/div>
I used to play with my nan and grandad\u2019s record player and dance around to old records I\u2019d find (Picture: Dominic Lipinski\/Getty Images for Bauer)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By the time I turned 18, I released my first single Mama Do, but unfortunately Nanny Martin already had dementia quite badly by then. She always cheered me on coming to all my early shows before she had dementia so I think she would have loved joining in on the antics once I started releasing my own music.<\/p>\n

The thing that we weren\u2019t prepared for was to see how her personality completely changed<\/a> and turn to the opposite of her character.<\/p>\n

It was hard to adjust, but as a family, we pulled together and were there for her and my grandad, who was very strong for her. It was important we enjoyed the little moments that we had while she was still with us. Nanny Martin passed away peacefully in 2014.<\/p>\n

At first, I didn\u2019t know what to do with all the memories but my sister Charlie, our mum and I talked through them all and I wrote them into a song with my songwriter friends Jerry and Andrew called Cry and Smile for my third album.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Teen\t<\/div>
Nanny Bennett was a strong and opinionated woman, always fighting for justice (Picture: Pixie Lott)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

\n\t\t\t\tAlzheimer's and dementia: the facts\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
\n

The most common forms of dementia (symptoms of a decline in brain function) are Alzheimer\u2019s disease followed by vascular dementia.<\/p>\n

Alzheimer\u2019s is caused when plaques and tangles form in the brain making it increasingly hard for it to function properly. Early symptoms include forgetting recent events, struggling to remember words, becoming disorientated in familiar places and finding it difficult to concentrate.<\/p>\n

Common early symptoms of vascular dementia include problems making decisions or following a series of steps, such as cooking a meal; slower speed of thought and trouble sleeping. The condition can also cause significant mood changes and depression and make people behave completely out of character.<\/p>\n

Dementia is the UK\u2019s biggest killer \u2013 and one in three babies born today will develop dementia in their lifetime. The risk of developing both Alzheimer\u2019s and vascular dementia roughly doubles every five years from the age of 65. Women and men are affected equally. Diabetes, obesity, heart problems and high blood pressure all increase the risk.<\/p>\n

However, you can significantly reduce your chances of developing the diseases by leading a healthy lifestyle \u2013 not smoking or drinking to excess, eating a balanced diet and getting regular exercise. Keeping mentally and socially active is also beneficial.<\/p>\n

The third most common form of dementia \u2013 accounting for an estimated 20 per cent of cases \u2013 is Lewy body. With this condition, tiny clumps of protein appear in the brain\u2019s nerve cells, causing a range of issues including mood swings, problems processing thoughts, hallucinations, difficulty balancing and walking slowly. Although DLB (dementia with Lewy body) can affect people under 65, it is much more common as we age, affecting men and women equally.<\/p>\n

There is currently no cure for any of the forms of dementia. But getting an early diagnosis is very important in allowing you and your loved ones to access all the medical and social support available. If you are worried that you have any of the symptoms, your GP will be able to refer you to a specialist who can carry out a range of tests.<\/p>\n

If you are worried that yours or someone else\u2019s symptoms may be dementia, download the Alzheimer\u2019s Society<\/a> symptoms checklist, on alzheimers.org.uk; for more information or support on anything you\u2019ve read here, call our support line on 0333 150 3456 or visit our website.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

During this time, my Nanny Bennett was dealing with dementia also. She was a huge fan of the Beatles, and she always had Capital Gold radio station playing in her house.<\/p>\n

I remember playing her my first singles and getting her opinion while we had tea and biscuits from tins at her house. She loved listening to all of the songs I released for my first album and her favourite was Cry Me Out.<\/p>\n

She was a strong and opinionated woman, always fighting for justice and loved her family fiercely.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why years later, my guitarist James and I went over to Nanny Bennett\u2019s to play her some music.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Schiaparelli\t<\/div>
I have since become an ambassador for Alzheimer’s Research UK (Picture: Dave Benett\/Getty Images for Schiaparelli)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I knew about the effect music has on people with dementia<\/a>, and studies have shown that music therapy can help reignite memories or create connections with people living with the condition. <\/p>\n

But I didn\u2019t expect such a strong reaction, and I\u2019m glad it resonated so much.<\/p>\n

We watched her change just like my Nanny Martin and she kept going back to thinking Dad and his siblings were young again and also an opposite change in her character. It was devastating to see.<\/p>\n

I have since become an ambassador for Alzheimer’s Research UK \u2013 losing two of my nans to dementia was hard, but it doesn\u2019t mean I can\u2019t help others.<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t\tAlzheimer's Research UK x Omaze Draw \t\t\t<\/h2>\n
\n

Alzheimer\u2019s Research UK celebrity supporter, Pixie Lott is supporting the latest Omaze Million Pound House Draw, Scotland in aid of the charity. Draw entries are available now at https:\/\/omaze.co.uk\/pages\/scotland-ii<\/a> The Draw closes at midnight on Sunday March 30.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Along with my family, we raised funds doing charity football matches, organised by Uncle Rick from my dad\u2019s side. It was all his idea and it was really brilliant. It gets the whole family together \u2013 and even though I don\u2019t have a clue what I\u2019m doing on the pitch \u2013 we managed to raise lots for Alzheimer’s Research UK. <\/p>\n

Uncle Rick also ran the London Marathon<\/a> for Alzheimer\u2019s Research UK, blasting out my nan\u2019s song Everybody\u2019s Talkin\u2019 by Harry Nilsson and we all went along to support, of course. I\u2019ve also dedicated some open mic nights at my local pub that I ran with my best friend Jocee, to help raise more.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Pixie\t<\/div>
Nanny Bnnett loved listening to all of the songs I released for my first album \u2013 her favourite was \u2018Cry Me Out\u2019 (Picture: Katja Ogrin\/Redferns)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It’s a really heartbreaking thing to go through, and dementia affects nearly one million people in the UK right now, which is a lot.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s an important cause, and if there\u2019s anything we can do to bring that number down we have to as it\u2019s something we will all experience in some way or another.<\/p>\n

Without that sounding clich\u00e9, seeing family members face dementia gives you a new perspective on life. You realise just how important time is, and that life is so short.<\/p>\n

I think making memories with family is the most important thing you can do in life. A love like that lasts forever.<\/p>\n

Remember, that every moment counts and means so much and leaves a lasting impact. The best thing we have in life is each other and family, so you want to hold on to that with all you can.<\/p>\n

As told to Sharan Dhaliwal and Nicole Vassell<\/em> <\/p>\n

Do you have a story you\u2019d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Share your views in the comments below.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dementia became a huge part of my family\u2019s life and the devastation from it is staggering (Picture: Alan Chapman\/Dave Benett\/Getty Images) It was 2014 and my guitarist James Wiseman and I went over to my Nanny Bennett\u2019s, to play her some music. Standing in front of her, by her bed, for the first time in a very long […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1622,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1620"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1620"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1620\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1630,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1620\/revisions\/1630"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1622"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1620"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1620"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1620"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}