With dementia being difficult to diagnose in the early stages, NR Times explores the early signs to look out for.
In England it is estimated that around 676,000 people have dementia with the number rising to 850,000 in the whole of the UK. This chronic condition manly affects older people over the age of 65, when the likelihood of developing dementia roughly doubles every five years.
Diagnosing dementia can be challenging, especially in the early stages of the condition. To do so, a doctor must recognise the pattern of the loss of skills and functions and determine what a person is still able to do.
Then, recognising early signs of dementia can facilitate a diagnosis. Here are some to look out for.
Memory problems
This is one of the most well-known symptom of dementia. A person with dementia may be able to remember events that took place years ago, but not what they had for breakfast.
A person with dementia may also display other changes in their short-term memory such as forgetting where they placed items or struggling to remember why they entered a particular room.
Changes in mood
A person with early signs of dementia may be more anxious, frightened or sad, and at a higher risk of depression. It is also common to become more irritable – perhaps in frustration at lost abilities – or easily upset.
Along with mood changes, early signs also affect personality. One typical type of personality change seen with dementia is a shift from being shy or quiet to being outgoing.
Language and communication
A person with dementia may struggle to find the right word in a conversation, or they might not follow what is being said. Speech can also be affected when someone with vascular dementia has had a stroke.
Poor orientation
A person may no longer recognise where hey are and so get lost, even in a place that is familiar to them. It may also become more difficult to follow a series of directions and step-by-step instructions.
Impaired judgement
Another consequence of cognitive decline is the loss of the ability to make good decisions, such as not recognising a medical problem that needs attention or wearing heavy clothing on hot days.
Another hallmark of poor judgement with dementia is the inability to use good financial judgement. Someone who was usually careful may start giving money away to people or causes they hardly know.
