Dementia is a devastating and hugely common health problem, with roughly 900,000 people across UK living with the condition.
And there are concerns that cases will triple worldwide by 2020, according to the World Health Organisation. Currently, Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia, but there are other conditions such as frontotemporal dementia.
To help identify the conditions and its risk factors, one expert has shared six "early" warning signs that could help sufferers get a diagnosis. It comes as Bruce Willis' frontotemporal dementia (FTD) diagnosis has seen an increase in the call for awareness of the less common symptoms for the rare dementia type, reports the Express.
Managing Director at Baycroft Care Homes, Stewart Mcginn, said: "FTD is a much less common type of dementia which also causes problems with behaviours and language, and typically is diagnosed in people from the age of 45 and up.
“FTD is a slow and progressive disease and is sometimes initially misdiagnosed with schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s or aphasia.”
FTD impacting the front and side temple area of the brain that is responsible for your behaviour, personality and speech. This means that symptoms can also become noticeable in these areas.
And to help identify the condition early, the expert has noted some symptoms to look out for in a loved one.
Six 'early' warning signs of dementia
Continuously misplacing things
Forgetting where you have put your keys down or misplacing your bank card is something lots of us do, but doing it often could be an "early" sign of dementia.
The expert explained: “This could be continuously losing their glasses or finding items in strange places, like a TV remote in the fridge or food items with the cleaning products.”
Finding it difficult to focus
Finding it difficult to take on tasks that require organisation and planning could be an early symptom.
Dementia begins to take over the brain, making it increasingly difficult to concentrate, the expert explains.
Problems with language
Mcginn said: “A sign that can indicate a person is suffering from dementia is having difficulty forming sentences or finding the right words during conversations.
“While everyone can forget the odd word from time to time, regularly struggling to remember words or substituting them in sentences with random words can indicate someone is suffering.”
Memory loss
Memory loss is the best-known sign of the condition and is considered the earliest red flag.
It may be forgetting the names of family and friends, the inability to recall recent events or even difficulty taking in new information. If you spot these things in a loved one, it may be sensible to suggest they get checked out by a doctor, Mcginn says.
Mood swings/changes in mood
Another early warning sign of dementia may be noticed in moods.
Frequent mood swings could point to the condition, with Mcginn explaining: “This can be a person’s mood quickly changing from calm to angry, or emotional, without reason, or if they become generally more withdrawn or anxious".
Confusion surrounding time and place
Forgetting why you entered a room or not remembering what you are looking for could be a sign of the condition.
Why it is common to face a little confusion once in a while, lots of confusion could be a warning sign.
The expert said: “For example, your elderly family member might become lost on a street they have walked down their whole life and struggle to find their way home.
“Your loved one might get confused about time, being unable to distinguish between their past and present.
“This could include confusing family members with people from their past, like their own parents, and struggling to remember people from their present, like their grandchildren.”
What to do if a loved one is showing signs of dementia?
The expert explained that the first thing to do if you are concerned about a loved one is to get them to see a GP.
The doctor can then evaluate and refer to a specialist if needed necessary.
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