Only one in three people showing signs of dementia reach out to their doctors within the first month, according to a new survey by the Alzheimer's Society.
Delay in seeking help can impact how quickly a treatment plan is put in place to help sufferers manage the condition.
A further poll found that those remaining quiet did not mention symptoms as they were unable to tell which symptoms were dementia-like compared to normal signs of ageing. Experts suggest that sufferers kept concerns to themselves to save worrying loved ones or appearing old to family members. The line between dementia warning signs and symptoms appearing due to the normal process of ageing can often be blurred.
According to the survey, one in three people (33 per cent) who notice signs of dementia keep their fears to themselves for more than one month. Around 15 per cent brought up the issues straight away, the poll found, with 11 per cent failing to raise their worries after spotting the first symptom, reports the Mirror.
The delay in seeking medical attention impacts how soon help is received, with 23 per cent waiting over six months to speak to a doctor.
It's easy to miss the signs of dementia - which often look like hearing loss, inattention, and forgetfulness - and dismiss them as regular signs of ageing.
Following Bruce Willis' dementia diagnosis, his daughter admitted that the entire family ignored the actor's symptom, assuming that he simply suffered hearing damage from Die Hard or simply took his "unresponsiveness" as part of his personally.
Penning an op-ed in Vogue, she said: “I’ve known that something was wrong for a long time,” Tallulah Willis confessed, adding that family members would often encourage each other to "'Speak up! Die Hard messed with Dad’s ears."
“Later, that unresponsiveness broadened, and I sometimes took it personally."
Aside from confusing symptoms with ageing, 16 per cent of the survey participants admitted they avoided diagnosis as they were concerned about how their personal relationships would change.
Some 44 per cent of individuals noted they worried that their caretakers or family members would begin to "talk down" to them.
The National Institute on Ageing released this list of symptoms of dementia:
- Asking the same question repeatedly
- Having trouble following directions like recipes
- Getting lost in a place you know well
- Becoming increasingly more confused about time, places, and people
- Not taking care of yourself, including eating poorly, forgetting to bathe or shower, or acting in an unsafe manner
If you are concerned about yourself or a family member, it is important to contract a doctor immediately.
Experiencing these symptoms can be normal in some cases, but repeated experiences can be of concern and required the correct medical attention.
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