The three subtle symptoms of dementia to look out for in everyday life as disease remains UK’s biggest killer
SPOTTING symptoms of dementia early offers benefits that can significantly impact the quality the life for individuals and families.
Especially as there’s no cure and with new research revealing it was the UK’s leading cause of death for the 13th year in a row in 2023.
Early signs often include memory loss, such as forgetting recent events or relying on others for tasks once managed with ease.
You might find planning or solving problems more difficult, taking longer to handle everyday responsibilities like paying bills or cooking meals.
Even familiar activities, such as driving to work or shopping, may feel more challenging.
But there are other subtle changes in behaviour that can signal the disease.
Dr Ahmad Khundakar, senior lecturer in biomedical science and dementia research at Teesside University, says to look out for the following three signs:
- Tasks you previously handled without effort, such as organising your schedule or preparing meals, may become challenging.
- Interactions with loved ones and others might also feel different, as following conversations or recalling names becomes harder.
- Activities that once brought happiness, such as hobbies or reading, may now feel too much.
As well as being able to spot the symptoms of dementia, doing what you can to reduce your risk of developing the disease is important.
Dr Khundakar said: “Though it may not be possible to prevent dementia in everyone, adopting a healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce the risk of developing it.
“Regular physical activity improves blood flow to the brain, helping to minimise cognitive decline.
“The saying ‘what’s good for your heart is good for your brain’ holds true here, with a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats, found in the Mediterranean diet, being particularly beneficial.
“Mentally stimulating activities like Sudoku, crosswords, reading or learning new skills can help build and maintain what we call the ‘cognitive reserve.’
“And staying socially active and maintaining strong friendships can protect against isolation, which is a risk factor for dementia.”
Dr Khundakar also emphasised the importance of sleep for reducing dementia risk.
He said: “Prioritising good quality sleep, managing stress effectively and addressing health conditions, like diabetes or high blood pressure, may also help prevent dementia.”
Adopting good habits to protect brain health should ideally begin in early adulthood, said Dr Khundakar, as we have our full complement of nerve cells in our brain by that age, and these cells don’t regenerate.
And in your 20s and 30s, adopting a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise, a nutritious diet and mental stimulation through learning is highly recommended.
He added: “During middle age, focusing on managing key risk factors such as cardiovascular health, stress and ensuring quality sleep can be particularly beneficial.
“In later life, continuing these practices can still yield significant benefits, helping to slow cognitive decline and enhance overall well-being.”
If you think you or a loved one has dementia, contact a GP.
Is it ageing or dementia?
Dementia – the most common form of which is Alzheimer’s – comes on slowly over time.
As the disease progresses, symptoms can become more severe.
But at the beginning, the symptoms can be subtle or mistaken for normal memory issues related to ageing.
The US National Institute on Aging gives some examples of what is considered normal forgetfulness in old age, and dementia disease.
You can refer to these above.
For example, it is normal for an ageing person to forget which word to use from time-to-time, but difficulting having conversation would be more indicative of dementia.
Katie Puckering, Head of Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Information Services team, previously 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.”