An expert identifies nine early signs of dementia, particularly in younger individuals, while highlighting the inadequate support available for them.
Professor Nick Fox, a leading authority on early-onset dementia, pointed out various symptoms that could serve as early indicators of this condition.
In a piece for the Telegraph, he clarified that early-onset dementia refers to symptoms appearing before the age of 65. However, it can also manifest in people as young as their 20s or 30s, with the youngest patient he encountered being only 23 years old.
Alzheimer’s disease, the primary cause of dementia, gradually harms and destroys healthy brain cells. Unfortunately, there is no known cure.
Professor Fox emphasized that the symptoms of early-onset dementia can differ in frequency and intensity among individuals and are sometimes mistakenly attributed to burnout or stress by healthcare professionals.
He mentioned that a person’s personality might subtly change, becoming perceptible to others.
The individual might start wearing bright colors, adhere to very rigid routines, or develop obsessions with certain foods, TV shows, or activities.
Professor Fox shared a story where a husband observed a shift in his wife’s demeanor. During a home gathering, as people they hadn’t seen for years arrived, she ignored them and moved her chair closer to the TV because they were blocking her view.
He also observed cases where individuals lost control over their consumption of food or drink.
This lack of control can extend to social interactions, with sufferers possibly becoming blunt or even rude, oblivious to social norms.
The brain’s frontal lobes are crucial for motivation, and as dementia progresses, damage to these areas can lead to a lack of desire to engage in activities.
For those with early-onset Alzheimer’s, they may lose their initiative and become indifferent to things.
However, they might still be open to participating in activities if someone else organizes them.
Professor Fox also noted that a symptom he frequently encounters is the diminished ability to read and interpret others’ emotions. They may also have difficulty empathizing.
He recounted a case where a woman was crying in her kitchen, overwhelmed and stressed by work demands.
Her previously attentive partner simply stepped over her to reach the washing machine, leaving her deeply upset by the apparent lack of empathy.
Another symptom involves difficulty in assessing or understanding the risks of their actions.
An individual who was once prudent with finances might find themselves in debt due to impulsivity and impaired judgment.
This inability to gauge risk can endanger themselves or others. Professor Fox explained that he became concerned about a patient’s driving, fearing their impaired risk assessment was affecting their driving abilities.
This is a prevalent symptom of dementia and can also manifest in early-onset cases.
Sufferers may lose skills like cooking and have difficulty learning new tasks.
This issue is not merely forgetfulness, as per Professor Fox, but rather a problem with the brain’s planning and sequencing capabilities.
Those affected might forget the proper sequence for tasks despite having done them many times before.
Another well-documented symptom is changes in speech, which can differ from one person to another. Some may struggle with simple conversations, or their speech may become less fluid, marked by stuttering or stumbling over words.
Others might mispronounce syllables, omit words, or resort to generic terms like ‘whatyamacallit’ or ‘thingamajiggy’ when they forget familiar words.
Dementia affecting the back of the brain can lead to issues with visual or spatial awareness.
This can manifest in difficulties with everyday tasks such as climbing stairs or reaching for a drink.
Professor Fox mentioned a patient who bought six different pairs of glasses, each with an updated prescription, not realizing his vision problems stemmed from undiagnosed dementia.
This symptom is often linked to older dementia sufferers, but it can also be present in early-onset dementia, according to the professor.
In early-onset cases, it may be one of the initial symptoms, although it is relatively uncommon.