IT'S well known that memory loss and confusion are symptoms of dementia.
But there are many other more subtle – and perhaps lesser known – signs that can indicate early-onset of the mind-robbing disease.
US scientists have found that having money management issues can one of the earliest alarm bells.
This includes spending too much money so you can't pay your bills at the end of the months – or forgetting to pay bills entirely.
The 2021 study, led by scientists at Johns Hopkins University, found people with the disease were making repeated financial mistakes as early as six years before their diagnosis.
The findings were based off the health records of 81,000 people with dementia.
Read more on dementia
The 11 risk factors that ‘strongly predict’ if you’ll develop dementia
Our boy is battling dementia aged 3 – we are making most of time he has left
However, it is also important to remember that some of these well-known changes, such as sudden mood changes, can simply be signs of old age.
One in 11 people in the UK suffer from dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Society.
This number is expected to rise sharply in the coming years as people continue to live longer – as ageing is a major risk factor of the disease.
Like with many conditions, getting an early diagnosis is important as it gives people the best chance of managing the disease and alleviating symptoms.
Most read in Health
The 11 risk factors that 'strongly predict' if you'll develop dementia
Boy, 7, born without right hand gets 'robot arm' from kind-hearted stranger
Bungling medics said wife's cancer was STI – now our boys are left with no mum
UK Covid cases nearly double in month as 2 new strains Eris & Pirola emerge
Other early signs of the condition include:
- memory loss
- difficulty concentrating
- finding it hard to carry out familiar daily tasks, such as getting confused over the correct change when shopping
- struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word
- being confused about time and place
- mood changes
Different types of dementia can affect people differently, and everyone will experience symptoms in their own way.
Do I have dementia?
THERE is no single test for dementia.
If you are concerned about any of these signs mentioned in this story, the next step is to talk to your doctor.
A diagnosis is based on a combination of assessments and tests
Only a qualified healthcare provider, after multiple assessment and tests, can confirm whether you or someone you know has dementia.
Source: Read Full Article