A DRUMMING display by Dementia Friends stopped Boris Johnson banging on about Brexit for a while at Uxbridge Library on Friday.

The Uxbridge branch of the charity performed as part of Dementia Awareness Week, to raise awareness of the illness that affects more than 2,500 people in the area.

The MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip went to show his support and said dementia was the number one healthy priority because of longer life spans, though mentioned childhood obesity was also a growing concern.

“It is great to see that Alzheimer’s Society is inviting people to confront dementia head on this Dementia Awareness Week,” he said.

“It’s a wonderful way of tackling the many myths and misunderstandings about the condition.”

The former mayor of London did not miss a beat to congratulate his successor Sadiq Khan, and when pushed on the EU referendum he said with a smile: “Vote to take back control.”

Mr Johnson approached the event with his usual gusto, announcing that he enjoyed the drumming but was not very good at it, and loudly asking other attendees if they were.

Drumming, along with singing and reading aloud, is a community activity which those suffering with dementia can attend with their carers.

Dave Privett, who has been volunteering with the charity for two years, said: “I like the fact that everyone is apprehensive at the beginning and they don’t know what to expect.

“But then there is a transformation in a very short space of time and everyone gets involved.”

Denise Kelliher, of Hillingdon Carers, said: “My father who died 10 years ago suffered from dementia.

“He loved to play the piano, but lost the ability to do that, so having something like that would have been great.”

The message from both Hillingdon Carers and Dementia Friends for those affected by dementia was to find a support network and not to suffer alone.

Julia James, who has worked in the field for 11 years, said: “Everybody sings out of tune but there’s so much laughter.

“Being able to laugh like this helps us to make people’s lives pleasurable and meaningful.”

Tim McLachlan, the Alzheimer’s Society’s operations director for Greater London, likened the mind to a bookcase and the effects of dementia to a shake knocking books from it.

The brain separates memories into two regions - the hippocampus stores statistical information, while emotional memories are kept in the amygdala. Facts and figures are easily dislodged but emotions remain.

Mr McLachlan said: “This Dementia Awareness Week we are hoping to convey the message to everyone that the sooner you face up to dementia by coming to us for help, the sooner you can get the right treatment, support and advice to tackle it.”

Call the National Dementia Helpline on 0300 222 1122 or visit alzheimers.org.uk/DAW.