Asked what she knew about Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia, Molly, who has a relative diagnosed with dementia, said, “It hurts their brain and they can’t remember a lot of things.”

With one in 20 people over the age of 65 currently diagnosed with dementia, and the number of sufferers set to rocket in an increasingly ageing population, the charity is trying to explain the condition to the next generation, who will be the carers and victims of the future.

A schools educational pack was launched today that uses quizzes and other fun activities to get across the serious message of not being able to retrieve memories, an ability most people take for granted.

“More and more children will know of someone with dementia,” said Maureen Thom of Alzheimer Scotland, who developed the schools pack. “The stigma can only be removed by promoting awareness in the next generation of adults.”

Molly and Bruce presented their framed posters to Shona Robison, Scottish Minister for Public Health. She invited the youngsters to visit the Scottish Parliament once their work was hung up there.

Ms Robison said it was particularly fitting that the schools pack launch and the Scottish Dementia Working Group conference should be happening within view of the Discovery.

“The Discovery was the ship that first carried Captain Scott and Ernest Shackelton to the Antartic in 1901,” said Ms Robison. “That was the very same year that Dr Alois Alzheimer first observed the symptoms of what would come to be known as Alzheimer’s Disease.”

She said the new Scottish Government was making dementia a priority and setting targets for the care of people with various forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s Disease. The Government was working with a number of agencies to improve the lives of people with dementia and their families and carers.

“We acknowledge more can be done and has to be done,” said Ms Robison.

Earlier, Ms Robison visited Taybank Medical Centre where she spoke to patients involved in the Keep Well programme that targets people aged between 45 and 64 and encourages them to take steps to reduce their risk of ill health by tackling issues such as smoking, poor diet and inactivity.

In the last six months 3500 Dundonians have been invited to participate in the programme that starts with a 40-minute assessment in individuals’ own GP surgeries and can then lead on to weight management classes, simple walking or other exercise programmes and other activities designed to help individuals reduce their risk of ill health.

Ms Robison also visited the £4m Southern Cross Healthcare home for elderly people in Pitkerro Road, where 70 new jobs have been created.

Performing the official opening Ms Robison said, “This is a first-class facility and the services offered will be welcomed by many people in Dundee. I am in no doubt the Centre will provide the high levels of care our older people so richly deserve.”