A WORD on the tip of the tongue or a forgotten birthday – everyone has occasional memory blanks.
While forgetting things occasionally is completely normal, it can be an early sign of dementia.
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A new poll has found as many as six in 10 adults put early signs of dementia down to old age – rather than the condition itself – but a simple test could help tell the difference between the two.
Dementia is a general term for a group of neurological conditions that affect the brain and cause a loss of cognitive abilities, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common type.
According to the NHS, there are more than 944,000 people in the UK living with dementia.
The number is set to increase because people are living longer, with more than one million people estimated to be diagnosed with dementia by 2030.
Since there is currently no cure for dementia, identifying symptoms early is crucial to manage the condition and provide the best possible support for the person affected.
But the poll, of 500 people who have a relative or loved one with the condition, revealed the common symptoms people often mistake for getting older, when they are in fact all signs of dementia.
Misplacing items, needing help with everyday tasks, and problems with judgements and decisions featured on the list.
While forgetting things they have just done or been told, and repeating the same question were also confused with ageing.
More than four in 10 (41 per cent) admit they first feared it could be dementia, but ‘brushed it under the carpet’, and put it down to getting older instead.
The study, commissioned by Care UK, also found 31 per cent believed such symptoms to be a normal part of ageing because they lacked knowledge at the time.
Suzanne Mumford, head of dementia and lifestyle for care home provider, 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 early on 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.
“That’s why we’re relaunching our Big Dementia Conversation for the second year running.
“We must continue to raise awareness of the condition and its symptoms in order to become a more dementia-friendly nation.”
The study also found that despite it taking an average of four months to realise certain symptoms could be dementia and not just old age, year-on-year comparisons show people are now more familiar with them.
Now, 44 per cent feel they would be able to recognise the different signs, whereas only 24 per cent said this in last year’s survey, both conducted via OnePoll.com.
Forgetting what they had just done or been told, repeating the same question, and not knowing where they were are among the things they started to notice first.
With struggling to find words, judgements and decisions, and misplacing items among the fastest developing symptoms.
But the yearly comparison also revealed misconceptions about the condition are still rife with 36 per cent believing it always includes memory loss – which isn’t far off the 34 per cent who said this last year.
And 20 per cent believe if someone in their family is living with dementia then they are likely to develop it too.
This is more than the 17 per cent who said the same previously.
Suzanne, for Care UK, added: “Recognising the signs and getting a diagnosis is just the first step towards better support, rather than the end.
“Contrary to popular belief, there are many ways to prevent and manage symptoms to live well with dementia. This is something we’re passionate about, and we’d like to invite those keen to find out more to head to our content hub to hear our experts’ advice.”
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Signs of dementia
On the surface, it can be hard to decipher between brain ageing and dementia, particularly when the disease is in the early stages.
Katie Puckering, Head of Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Information Services team, said the key difference is that in people with dementia, their symptoms impact their daily functioning.
Just some of the ways dementia can impact a person’s daily life, even years before a diagnosis, include:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Finding it hard to carry out familiar daily tasks, such as getting confused over the correct change when shopping
- Struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word
- Being confused about time and place
- Mood changes
Dementia is not just forgetfulness. It can interfere with the way someone behaves or how they speak.
So how can you work out if your memory blip is normal, or a warning sign to see someone?
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Take the test
Using the example of lost car keys, Katie explained the difference between someone with normal brain ageing and someone with dementia.
She told The Sun: “We quite commonly as humans put our car keys somewhere out of the ordinary and it takes longer for us to find them.
“As you get older, it takes longer for you to recall, or you really have to think; What was I doing? Where was I? What distracted me? Was it that I had to let the dog out? And then you find the keys by the back door.
“That process of retrieving the information is just a bit slower in people as they age.
“In dementia, someone may not be able to recall that information and what they did when they came into the house.
“What may also happen is they might put it somewhere it really doesn’t belong. For example, rather than putting the milk back in the fridge, they put the kettle in the fridge.”
The US National Institute on Aging gives some examples of what is considered normal forgetfulness in old age, and dementia disease.
Read each one carefully and think about what type you may fall under. It may help to do it with someone you live with:
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These are only a few examples, as dementia can present itself in varying ways.
Sometimes the person affected will not be aware of the deterioration in their cognitive abilities, and it is a loved one that spots the signs.
Katie said: “That is a key feature of some types of dementia – when you start to make mistakes more frequently but not realise it’s happening.
“It becomes quite difficult for people who live independently and don’t know they’re making mistakes around the house.”
How is dementia different from ageing?
The NHS says dementia is “not a natural part of ageing”.
Katie explained: “As we get older our brains do get a little bit smaller, and this is normal. We have a slowing of our thinking and memory processes.
“But in Alzheimer’s [the most common form of dementia], it’s a significant amount of shrinking.
“Over time, brain cells become damaged due to a buildup of toxic proteins called amyloid and tau.
“These start to interrupt how brain cells communicate with each other and that’s what brings on the symptoms we associate with Alzheimer’s – repetitiveness, memory loss, sometimes disorientation, and problems with communication.
“The breakdown of communication between brain cells causes them to eventually die off and the volume of the brain – which is a mass of cells – starts to shrink.”
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When to see a doctor
It may be frightening to think your day-to-day errors could be the early stages of dementia.
Signs that it might be time to talk to a doctor include:
- Asking the same questions over and over again
- Getting lost in places a person knows well
- Having trouble following recipes or directions
- Becoming more confused about time, people, and places
- Not taking care of oneself —eating poorly, not bathing, or behaving unsafely
Katie said the first thing to do is contact your GP if you suspect something is wrong.
She said: “They’ll run some different tests which can rule out other causes.
“With these mild symptoms there are many different symptoms that could cause those, for example thyroid disorders, vitamin deficiencies, and underlying infection, interactions with medications and the menopause.
“So by going to the GP, they can run some blood tests and quick memory tests to determine what the symptoms are. And then if they feel it is suitable, they may make a referral to a memory clinic for more tests.”
There are many organisations that support people, and their families, affected by the memory-robbing disease.
Katie said to contact their information service on 0300 111 5111, by emailing [email protected], or by writing to Dementia Research Infoline, Alzheimer’s Research UK, 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6AD.
