Currently, it’s estimated that 982,000 people in the UK are living with dementia, a figure projected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040. The global situation is also set to worsen significantly, with the World Health Organisation predicting cases will triple by 2050.
The recent diagnosis of Hollywood actor Bruce Willis with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a less well-known form of the disease that affects behaviour and language, has brought increased public attention to the condition. According to the NHS, dementia primarily affects older individuals, with the risk of developing the disease roughly doubling every five years after the age of 65.
However, some people can develop dementia earlier, which presents unique challenges for the individual, their carer, and their family. In England alone, there are approximately 540,000 carers for people with dementia.
It’s estimated that one in three people will care for someone with dementia in their lifetime. Half of these carers are employed, and it’s believed that around 66,000 people have already reduced their working hours to care for a family member, while 50,000 people have left work entirely.
The economic cost associated with dementia is substantial, estimated at £23 billion a year and predicted to triple by 2040. This exceeds the costs of cancer, heart disease, and stroke, reports Surrey Live.
Stewart Mcginn, Managing Director at Baycroft Care Homes, recently underscored the importance of spotting early signs that might indicate Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD): “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. ” He further noted, “FTD is a slow and progressive disease and is sometimes initially misdiagnosed with schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s or aphasia.”
Mcginn clarified that FTD primarily affects areas of the brain involved with personality, behaviour, and language, specifically the frontal and temporal regions, leading symptoms to predominantly emerge in these areas.
Losing items
To aid in early detection, he detailed some “early” warning signs such as frequent loss of personal items. While it’s normal for people to misplace things occasionally, regular occurrences can point to an “early” sign of dementia onset.
Mcginn stated: “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,” indicating that such patterns are red flags for dementia.
He also mentioned that sufferers might find organisational and planning tasks increasingly challenging and that maintaining concentration becomes much “harder” as the disease advances.
Speech
McGinn also pointed out that language difficulties could be an early warning of dementia, explaining: “A sign that can indicate a person is suffering from dementia is having difficulty forming sentences or finding the right words during conversations.”
He added: “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
Memory issues are often the most recognisable symptom of the condition, and they’re seen as one of the first indicators of cognitive decline. “Whether your loved one is frequently forgetting the names of people they know, or is unable to recall recent events or new information learned, it’s best to get them checked out by a doctor,” the expert recommended.
Mood
Mood swings are another potential indicator of dementia. McGinn noted: “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 about time and place
He also mentioned confusion about time and place as a symptom to watch for. While it’s common for people to jest about forgetting why they walked into a room, an expert stresses that with dementia, there are more significant concerns. One specialist pointed out, “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.”
The professional elaborated, “Your loved one might get confused about time, being unable to distinguish between their past and present.” Taking a deeper dive into the symptoms, the expert disclosed, “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.”
Should these worrying signs emerge, the importance of promptly consulting a GP cannot be overstated. After seeing a doctor, your loved one may then be referred to the necessary specialists if the GP thinks it appropriate.