What are the Common Early Signs of Dementia?
Early signs and symptoms of dementia might include memory loss, short and longer term, difficulty in finding the right words, problem solving and how to complete familiar tasks, such as finding the tea bags to make a cup of tea. Behavioural change might include increased agitation, anxiety or confusion, changes in mood or personality and loss of inhibition,
It is important to note that experiencing one or more of these symptoms does not necessarily mean that an individual has dementia. However, if you or a loved one are noticing these early signs and symptoms of dementia and they are interfering with daily life, it is important to consult your GP. Early diagnosis and intervention can help manage symptoms and improve the quality of life for individuals with dementia.
What are the Different Types of Dementia?
The different types of dementia affect the brain in different ways and at different rates.
Vascular dementia is associated with risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes, with symptoms including cognitive decline and memory problems.
Frontotemporal dementia, or Pick’s Disease, primarily affects behaviour and language, leading to social awkwardness and difficulties in communication.
Dementia with Lewy bodies presents with visual hallucinations, motor disturbances, and cognitive fluctuations.
Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, is caused by the accumulation of amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain, leading to memory loss and cognitive impairment.
Mixed dementia is a combination of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, resulting in a wider range of symptoms and cognitive decline.
Risk factors
For most people, the biggest risk factors for dementia are ageing and genes. If a close relation has dementia the probability of getting the disease will be higher. As well as age and family history, other risks include:
- head trauma, a specific injury or repeated impacts, as associated with sports such as boxing, rugby and football, repeatedly heading a football
- lifestyle factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet, obesity, lack of physical activity
- a smaller ‘cognitive reserve’. What is described as ‘cognitive reserve’ relates to the brain’s capacity to cope with dementia.
According to the Alzheimer’s Society three main factors can diminish cognitive reserve:
- leaving education early: a person who left school at an early age is more likely to have a smaller cognitive reserve than a person who stayed in full-time education for longer or who continued learning throughout their life
- less job complexity: a person who has not used a range of mental skills during their lifetime of work – for example, memory, reasoning, problem-solving, communication and organisational skills – is more likely to have a smaller cognitive reserve
- social isolation: a person who has not interacted much with other people during their life may also have a smaller cognitive reserve.
Regularly exercising one’s brain using word and number games and puzzles, while not overcoming dementia, can improve cognitive ability, such as puzzle books, crosswords, jigsaws, Sudoku, Wordle and Spelling Bee.
Early diagnosis and treatment are important in managing dementia and improving the quality of life for affected individuals and their carers. Treatment may involve medication to manage symptoms, therapy to support cognitive function and lifestyle changes to promote brain health.
Useful resources >> Alzeimers Society & Dementia Friends
Dementia Care: Home Care or Care Homes?
Many people who have been diagnosed with dementia are able to continue to live happily in their own homes, either supported by a partner or other family member and/or professional carers. Dementia care requires a combination of practical day-to-day support, appropriate communication, patience, kindness and the empathy that is found in those with a vocational calling to care for the elderly and for those suffering from this disease.
