Bake Off star Linda Rayfield shared heartbreaking memories of her tragic daughter Melissa's illness in a post on Instagram.
The Retirement Living Team Leader, who appeared on last year's edition of the baking show, also shared a picture of her daughter, who died at just 18.
Linda explained that after working with people with dementia, she recognised signs of Melissa's illness in them.
She wrote: "She was 18 when she passed away and it wasn't until recently becoming a Dementia Friend and learning more about the condition I realised she had Dementia.
"Knowing wouldn't have changed the outcome but I would have understood all the times she looked at me vacantly and cried so desperately she probably didn't recognise me."
Linda said knowing Melissa probably had the disease was heart-breaking.
She wrote: "That breaks my heart because all her life I protected her, comforted her and we shared so many wonderful memories, and at the end I feel I let her down.
"People living with Dementia rely on their long term memory and some of hers were pretty traumatic."
She urged her followers to get involved with Dementia Friends, as she had.
In October Linda moved viewers of the popular Channel 4 show to tears when she made a cake in tribute to her daughter.
At the time she told viewers: "This cake really means a lot to me. It's a tribute to my daughter.
"Melissa had special needs, she's no longer with us. She passed away when she was 18, but this is just a celebration of her life really, and she was just a sweet little English rose."
