Their are a number of early signs that may encourage you to take that first step in seeing your doctor for a diagnosis.

It must be said that you shouldn’t worry yourself as you read the following symptoms of dementia as it may not necessarily apply to your loved ones. Everyone forgets things to some extent but if memory loss is a genuine problem then you should see a GP as soon as you possible.

Memory Loss

Sufferers of dementia continuously forget recent events, dates and appointments, regardless of how important they are. Memories from their distant past still tend to be easily remembered.

Not Keeping Up With Conversations 

They may lose their train of thought or repeat themselves multiple times throughout a conversation. They may also struggle to follow what somebody else is talking about and lose track of the conversation. The same would apply when they are watching Television.

Forgetting the Names of Everyday Objects

The names of everyday objects such as clocks, ovens, chairs may often be forgotten. Instead they are often described by their appearance or referred to as ‘thing’.

Losing Things

Those with dementia may consistently misplace items in odd ways, such as placing a remote in the fridge.

Depth Perception

Dementia can cause people to lose their depth perception and struggle to gage distances. This may be shown through struggling on staircases or tripping over things regularly.

Colour Perception 

If similar shades of a colour are next to each other, they may struggle to distinguish the differences or things may blend into one. For example, a white light switch on a white wall may disappear from their perspective.

Orientation 

Losing orientation of time and place is a common symptom of dementia and is often the first noticeable symptom that worry’s people.

Difficulty Solving/Managing Problems

Dementia can impede your ability to follow instructions and plans or to remember how things work. If your loved one was previously adept at complex tasks but is now unable to follow simple instructions, then this may be a sign of dementia.

Lack of Judgement

Poor judgement and consistent errors in judgement may be another sign of dementia. One instance of this does not indicate dementia, but if it becomes a regular occurrence then this could be cause for concern. For example, they may make poor financial decisions.

Mood Swings

If you have noticed a considerable change in your loved ones mood and personality it could be another cause for concern. For example, if they are now withdrawn and moody when once they were the opposite. Sometimes, someone who was conservative and kept to themselves may become disinhibited. The noticeable thing to look for is a significant change in personality.

When Should You Seek Help

Any of these symptoms in isolation do not necessarily mean that your loved one has dementia. However, if most or all of these are presenting then it would be suggested to visit your GP for tests. The sooner it is treated, the better chance their is of slowing down the progression.