The 5 early warning dementia signs flagged by experts

Dementia can be a devastating disease to find out a loved one has – and it is now one of the UK’s biggest killers. Thankfully, it is not something those under the age of 65 think about. However, reports show the number of people living with the condition in Britain has increased by 69% in the last ten years.

As of 2022, nearly 80,000 individuals under the age of 65 in the UK have been diagnosed with the condition – but it’s estimated that a third of those currently struggling with dementia are undiagnosed. And there is a key reason for this, as one expert has explained.

“This is largely because many people assume symptoms such as memory loss and confusion are a natural part of ageing and that there’s nothing that can be done, so they don’t see their GPs for help,'” said Professor Dame Louise Robinson, regius professor of ageing at Newcastle University and a practising GP.

Alzheimer’s UK revealed that one in ten deaths are due to Dementia.

A spokesperson for the charity said: “Symptoms of Alzheimer’s are usually mild at the beginning and gradually worsen over time. People can experience issues with memory, concentration and speech; this can all culminate in the person withdrawing from social and family circles,”. 

Below are just some of the warning dementia signs flagged by experts that everyone should know:

Confusion and disorientation

Confusion or feeling disoriented can be an early warning sign, according to Professor Dame Louise Robinson.

If these symptoms develop suddenly over a few hours or days, they’re often due to treatable causes like infections (such as chest or urinary tract infections) or side effects from medications like strong painkillers or sleeping pills.

However, when confusion builds gradually over a longer period, it may signal the early stages of conditions like Alzheimer’s disease or vascular dementia, which are linked to reduced blood flow to the brain.

Daily memory loss

Memory problems are a frequent early symptom of dementia, especially Alzheimer’s disease. They stem from damage to areas of the brain involved in forming and accessing memories – particularly the hippocampus in the medial temporal lobe.

“Abnormal growth of amyloid and tau interferes with the brain’s ability to process information, affecting how we store and retrieve memories,” said Professor Robinson.

While it’s normal to misplace items like glasses occasionally, it’s important to seek help if memory issues become more frequent (especially before age 65) or start interfering with daily routines. 

Communication difficulties

Occasionally struggling to find the right word is normal with ageing. These momentary lapses usually resolve on their own.

“However, it may be a symptom of dementia if someone is progressively finding it difficult to find the right word or understand the meaning of certain words,” said consultant neurologist Paresh Malhotra, professor of clinical neurology at Imperial College London. Additional signs may include mixing up words, repeating them, or simplifying speech.

These issues result from damage in areas of the brain that handle language and speech – primarily the frontal and temporal lobes. This is particularly common in frontotemporal dementia but can also occur in vascular dementia if language-related brain regions are affected.

Difficulty judging distances

Vision relies not just on the eyes but also on the brain’s interpretation of visual information.

“I sometimes see people who have been told by an optician that there’s nothing wrong with their sight yet they are having difficulties with their vision,” said Nick Fox, professor of neurology at University College London .

The occipital and parietal lobes process visual data. If these regions are damaged by protein buildup, visual difficulties can occur. Common signs include misjudging distances (e.g., tripping on stairs or clipping car mirrors), difficulty recognising familiar objects and confusion when looking at complex patterns.

Personality changes

If a loved one starts behaving inappropriately or unlike themselves, it may be a sign that dementia is affecting the brain’s frontal lobes.

“This can be hurtful to witness, as they often also become much less empathetic to other people’s feelings and say or do wounding or insensitive things,” says Professor Fox.