An "early" warning sign of dementia could show up while someone is watching TV, according to a healthcare expert. This subtle change might be amongst the first signs that a person may have the condition.
The NHS explains that dementia is a collection of symptoms that result from damage to the brain caused by different diseases, such as Alzheimer's. These symptoms vary according to the part of the brain that is damaged.
Around one million people in the UK are presently living with the condition - a number expected to rise substantially as our population gets older. While many people can identify the more obvious symptoms of dementia, there exist further, more subtle indicators which can be easily overlooked. This comes as a North East woman is proving that life goes on despite dementia as she leads running classes for fellow residents at a care home, as reported by ChronicleLive.
Consultant neurologist Dr Tim Rittman has highlighted the challenges in distinguishing early-stage dementia from other health conditions. Writing for Alzheimer's Research UK, he said: "In its early stages, dementia can be difficult to tell apart from other conditions.
"And that means it can be hard to know how much to worry if you think someone might be a bit different than when you last saw them. That's understandable - it's something many of us know very little about."
Research conducted by YouGov revealed that less than half of participants (49 per cent) were able to identify "memory loss" as a consequence of dementia. Only 12 per cent of the 2,162 people questioned understood that dementia leads to a loss of independence, whilst almost a quarter (22 per cent) admitted to having no knowledge about how the condition impacts people, reports the Daily Record.
Dr Rittman continued: "It's a surprising finding, given how dementia will impact so many of us". He emphasised the importance of boosting public awareness regarding dementia's early warning signals, explaining: "It is important, then, to raise awareness of early signs of dementia so people with symptoms can be referred to a memory clinic for a full assessment and an accurate, timely diagnosis."
He added that getting an early diagnosis allows individuals and their families to plan ahead, access appropriate support and care, and possibly participate in clinical trials. Dr Rittman highlighted several key warning indicators to watch for, saying: "When it first starts, dementia's signs and symptoms are often mild and not that easy to spot."
He explained that minor memory issues, changes in perception or problems with communication could indicate an underlying condition. However, he said: "It's really important to know that these kinds of symptoms can have other causes, such as low mood, or the side-effects of medications. But they could be early signs of dementia."
According to Dr Rittman, memory and thinking problems, which are common dementia indicators, may initially become noticeable during routine activities like television viewing. People might discover they cannot follow the storyline in a show they normally watch, finding it "difficult to follow".
He explained: "Early on forgetfulness could be mild, affecting memory for places or things that have happened in the past. You may notice someone asking the same question in quick succession, or struggling to remember the name of objects around the house. People may find they struggle to concentrate on daily tasks, or they may find following the storyline of a TV programme difficult for example."
The NHS says: "Different types of dementia can affect people differently, and everyone will experience symptoms in their own way. However, there are some common early symptoms that may appear some time before a diagnosis of dementia." These include:
"These symptoms are often mild and may get worse only very gradually," the experts added. "It's often termed 'mild cognitive impairment' (MCI) as the symptoms are not severe enough to be diagnosed as dementia.
"You might not notice these symptoms if you have them, and family and friends may not notice or take them seriously for some time. In some people, these symptoms will remain the same and not worsen. But some people with MCI will go on to develop dementia.
"Dementia is not a natural part of ageing. This is why it's important to talk to a GP sooner rather than later if you're worried about memory problems or other symptoms."