Early dementia signs explained as most adults blame symptoms on old age
Dementia is a scary, but common disease that affects more than 944,000 people in the UK. However, the early signs of dementia are often mistaken for old age, a new study has found.
Six in 10 adults put the early signs of dementia down to old age rather than the condition itself, with common symptoms like misplacing items and needing help with everyday tasks getting mixed up.
The study, commissioned by Care UK, also found that 31% believed such symptoms are a normal part of ageing because they didn’t know that these could also be symptoms of dementia at the time.
Suzanne Mumford, head of dementia and lifestyle for Care UK, said: "Awareness of dementia has improved, but many people still struggle to confidently differentiate between signs of old age and dementia.
"Understandably, it can also be a worrying time when a loved one starts acting out of character or begins to display symptoms of dementia. Yet, reaching out for support can make a world of difference - whether it’s speaking to an expert about how to manage symptoms or simply connecting with families who may be in a similar situation.:
The study found it takes an average of four months to realise certain symptoms could be dementia and not just old age. Symptoms such as forgetting what the person has just done or been told, repeating the same question, and not knowing where they are were among the things that become noticeable first.
Alzheimer’s Research UK adds that the early signs of dementia are often mild and can be difficult to spot. These are the signs you should know to look out for:
Memory and thinking problems
A major early sign of dementia is forgetfulness, but this can be mild at first. A person may start asking the same question repeatedly or struggle to remember the names of everyday items, for example. Changes to perception and awareness may also be an early sign, as people experiencing memory and thinking problems are often less aware of these changes than the people around them.
Communication issues
If a person is taking pauses in the midst of conversation, having problems finding the right words or with putting sentences together, these can be a sign of aphasia. Aphasia means problems with understanding words, speaking, reading, and writing, and is a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. It can also be caused by frontotemporal dementia, which is a rarer type of dementia.
Planning and problem solving
Another early sign of dementia is if a person is having trouble organising their schedule because they miss appointments or have problems with forward planning. General confusion about what day it is and being unable to follow instructions are also common symptoms of mild dementia.
Moods and emotions start to swing
A person experiencing symptoms of dementia may start to display low mood and anxiety, especially about going to a new place or meeting new people. Changes to behaviour, such as a loss of empathy or becoming angry quickly can also be early signs in some types of dementia.
Difficulty with movement
Alzheimer’s Research UK urges people to look out for movement symptoms, which can affect a person with dementia before memory and thinking problems start. Look out for signs such as changes to the way a person walks, difficulty with coordination, increased unsteadiness, or limb stiffness.
Visual problems
Finally, some people may begin to experience visual disturbances, such as hallucinations, which means seeing people or objects that only exist in their mind. This is a common symptom in Alzheimer’s disease alongside memory problems. It can also be an issue in two different types of dementia, including dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and posterior cortical atrophy (PCA).
While it can be normal for memory to be affected by stress, tiredness, certain illnesses and medicines, if you're becoming increasingly forgetful (particularly if you're over the age of 65) it's a good idea to talk to a GP about the early signs of dementia, the NHS advises.
Additional reporting by SWNS
Support and more information about a diagnosis is just a phone call or a click away. Visit alzheimers.org.uk/memoryloss or call 0333 150 3456.
Read more about dementia:
8 things you can do to cut your risk of dementia (Yahoo Life UK, 2-min read)
The love of my life was diagnosed with dementia at 48 (Yahoo Life UK, 9-min read)
Alzheimer's 'could be detected up to 20 years before symptoms appear' (BirminghamLive, 4-min read)
