Dementia: The Early Symptoms

In the early stages of dementia, a person’s symptoms are often mild and not always easy to spot. Common early-stage symptoms are problems with speed of thought, memory, language or perception.

What are the early-stage symptoms of dementia?

The early stage of dementia may last about 2 years, but this is a rough guide as it’s different for everyone.

In the early stage of dementia, the following common symptoms start to affect the person’s daily life:

Memory Problems

Memory problems are the most well-known first signs of dementia. For example, someone may not remember certain events or keep losing items around the house. Memory loss is often the first and main symptom of early-stage Alzheimer’s, it’s also seen in early vascular dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies. Although memory loss is not common in early frontotemporal dementia.

Difficulties with Thinking & Planning

A person with dementia may find it hard to think things through properly or make complex decisions (like dealing with finances). They will also struggle to solve problems, as well as having trouble planning. They have a loss of focus and slowed thinking which makes it hard for them to be organised and make quick decisions.

Disorientation

Some people suffer with disorientation or delirium when struggling with dementia, this just means they get suddenly confused about things they would know instantly. They find it hard to recognise places, even if they are familiar to them, which means they tend to get lost easily. Becoming unsure of the day or time is another common sign, as well as them becoming unsure of who they are.

Visuospatial Difficulties

Dementia can cause the brain to not process information about 3D objects. This means that they lose the ability to judge distances and spatial awareness. This will lead to them having difficulties using stairs, parking a car and recognising objects. Visuospatial difficulties are different to hallucinations (usually of people or animals) that are a feature of early-stage dementia with Lewy bodies.

Changes in Mood or Emotion

It’s common to become more irritable – perhaps from frustration at lost abilities – or easily upset. Someone with dementia can be more anxious, frightened or sad, as well as them being more withdrawn. This then causes them to lack self-confidence and lose interest in hobbies or people.

Changes in behaviour are not common first signs of dementia, other than frontotemporal dementia. Someone with frontotemporal dementia may lose social skills, which causes them to act inappropriately or impulsively, as well as them losing empathy for others around them.

For more information on dementia you can visit the NHS website, or for further advice you can visit the Dementia UK website.