Few people thought Coronation Street would bring the topic of “early onset dementia” to the center of its story — and even less thought the character who would have to bear it would be Debbie Webster, a person who was once full of energy, confidence, and ambition. But tragedy has really struck.

It all started with small details: Debbie forgot the name of an item she had to import, forgot to pay the electricity bill, forgot to meet a friend. At the time, the audience thought this was just a funny twist.

But then, as the show continued, viewers began to worry.

One night, Debbie was cleaning up the shop when she suddenly collapsed, her hands shaking, her eyes blurred — that was when the show took her to hospital.

The doctor announced: Debbie had signs of early onset dementia. Not senile Alzheimer’s, but a rare condition that occurs in people still of working age. The news was like a thunderbolt. Debbie looked at the doctor, then looked down at her shaking hands, her face pale. She couldn’t accept it. She shook her head, laughed stiffly, said “I’m too young for this” – but the audience knew it was a laugh of despair.

After being discharged from the hospital, Debbie decided to hide it from everyone. She was afraid of pity. Afraid of being called a burden. Afraid of being seen as “not the same Debbie anymore.” But hiding her illness only made things worse. She started dropping things, locking the wrong door, forgetting to turn off the stove, even forgetting where she had been just 10 minutes before.

The scene that made the audience cry the most was when Debbie looked in the mirror, trying to remember the name of an old memory but completely failed. She put her hand on her chest and silently said: “Don’t take me from myself.” Just one sentence, but enough to make the audience choke.

The climax is about to come when Debbie’s family discovers the secret. Metro describes the scene as “one of the most emotional episodes on Coronation Street this year.” According to insider leaks, the first person to learn the truth will not be Kevin or Rita — but an unexpected character. That person will witness Debbie lost in the middle of the street, standing there, unable to remember the way home.

This episode hits the heartstrings of viewers. The story is no longer a personal tragedy, but a warning: dementia can happen to anyone, at any age. And more importantly: people with the disease don’t just lose their memories, they lose parts of themselves.

ITV has confirmed that this will be a long-term story, not a make-believe one. Debbie will have to face the truth, face the community, face loss. But at the same time, the show also aims for hope: solidarity, love, patience — the things that will keep Debbie strong when her memories fade.