EARLY SIGNS OF DEMENTIA

According to the Alzheimer’s Society, 850,000 people in the UK have dementia, with one in six aged over 80. There is no cure, but early diagnosis can help ease the symptoms, which include behavioural changes and memory loss. The symptoms of Alzheimer’s can be divided into three main stages. It can take years to progress from mild to serious, and each person will develop symptoms at a different rate. According to the NHS, the most common early symptom is memory lapses, which may include:

Forgetting recent conversations, events or whereabouts of household items.

Forgetting place or object names.

Regular repetition or asking the same question several times.

Poor judgment and finding it tough to make decisions.

Becoming less flexible or more resistant to new things.

There may also be mood changes, increased anxiety or confusion. As the disease develops, memory deteriorates further, with names of loved ones harder to recall. Even recognising friends and family can become difficult. For more details, go to alzheimers.org.uk