Dementia is a devastating diagnosis for both the affected person and their loved ones. It is a syndrome, which is a group of symptoms, related to the ongoing decline of the brain.
Over time this can lead to problems with memory, behaviour and even movement.
It is thought almost one million Britons are currently living with the condition. And this figure is only expected to rise due to our ageing population.
Many of us are aware of some of the well-known symptoms of dementia. These include memory loss, reduced thinking speed and difficulty carrying out everyday tasks.
However, there are some less well-known signs that could be early indicators of the condition.
One expert spoke with Express.co.uk about symptoms to spot in social situations.
Dr Henk Swanepoel, lead neuropsychologist at Cygnet Health Care, warned of a specific type of dementia that causes noticeable personality changes.
He shared three signs of frontotemporal dementia to spot during conversations.
These include:
- Making “cold” or insensitive statements
- Making inappropriate jokes
- Being withdrawn.
Frontotemporal dementia is a type of dementia that causes problems with behaviour and language, according to the NHS.
“Physically, a patient with dementia may present with slow movements, incontinence and swallowing difficulties,” he said.
“The deterioration results in significant care needs cognitively as well as physically.
“Other early signs of frontotemporal dementia might result in personality changes which can manifest in ‘cold’ and insensitive statements, or blaming others for being ‘cold’ and insensitive.”
He continued: “The reason for this behaviour is because the dementia is causing a lack of social insight or awareness.
“Often a dementia patient might make inappropriate jokes and/or have lack of tact, but patients can also be withdrawn, which can be out of character for them.”
If someone you know is displaying signs of dementia you should speak to their GP.
Dr Swanepoel explained what to do if someone is diagnosed with dementia.
“Once the diagnosis has been confirmed, try and approach all behaviour as a form of communication or a message, for example, anger can be a message of confusion, fear or pain,” he said.
“Try to identify triggers as soon as possible, such as a break in a person’s routine might cause upset.
“Distraction can be effective by focusing on what the person enjoys, going for a walk.
“A daily routine can also be very effective which creates structure and predictability.”
The NHS lists signs of frontotemporal dementia as:
- Personality and behaviour changes – acting inappropriately or impulsively, appearing selfish or unsympathetic, neglecting personal hygiene, overeating, or loss of motivation
- Language problems – speaking slowly, struggling to make the right sounds when saying a word, getting words in the wrong order, or using words incorrectly
- Problems with mental abilities – getting distracted easily, struggling with planning and organisation
- Memory problems – these only tend to occur later on, unlike more common forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
