An early sign of dementia could be mistaken for a common winter condition. If someone experiences this symptom alongside other red flags you may need to speak to a doctor.
Dementia is a syndrome, or a group of associated symptoms, linked to the ongoing decline of the brain. It can result in memory loss, behavioural changes, and even difficulty moving.
However, in its early stages, the symptoms can seem subtle. And in some cases, they could be mistaken for something else.
According to Dementia UK, one potential early warning sign of dementia is “low mood, anxiety or depression”. It said: “In the early stages of dementia, people typically start to experience symptoms that affect their everyday living.”
But low mood or depression can also be a symptom of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). This is a type of depression that happens in the winter and goes away in the summer.
The NHS says this could lead to:
- Low mood
- A lack of interest in things you usually enjoy
- Feeling guilty, hopeless or worthless
- Feeling restless or irritable
- Difficulty concentrating
- Being more hungry and eating more than usual
- Being more tired and sleeping more than usual
- Thoughts of suicide or self-harm
Dementia UK lists other potential early signs of dementia as:
- Problems with memory and concentration
- Difficulties with language and communication, such as finding the right words and following conversations
- Difficulties with planning, problem-solving and decision-making
- Getting lost in familiar places due to problems with orientation and a loss of recognition of cues that they usually rely on, such as signs and landmarks
- Changes in behaviour and personality, for example becoming less patient or more withdrawn
It said: “The person with early symptoms of dementia may notice the signs themselves, or family, friends and colleagues may spot them first. Memory problems may not be obvious in the early stages of some types of dementia, like frontotemporal dementia – changes in behaviour and personality may develop first.
“People with young onset dementia (where symptoms develop before the age of 65) are also less likely to experience memory loss as an early symptom.”
The charity also pinpointed that changes in mood can be symptoms of two specific types of dementia: vascular and Lewy body dementia. Vascular dementia could cause “changes in mood, behaviour and personality” while Lewy body dementia may result in “mood changes, such as anxiety and depression”.
However, it can be difficult to know initially if dementia is the reason for these symptoms. Dementia UK added: “Please be aware that many dementia symptoms can also be signs of other physical or mental health conditions, for example thyroid problems, menopause, vitamin B12 deficiency, depression, anxiety, work stress or relationship problems.
“This means that having symptoms of dementia does not mean you definitely have the condition. However, if you or someone you know are experiencing signs and symptoms of dementia, it is important to see a GP to establish what may be causing them.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of dementia you should speak to a GP as soon as possible.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
