Dementia Support Line
Do I have dementia?
As we get olderwe’re likely to notice some changes in our mental abilities. For most of us they are part of the natural process of ageing. But dementia is different. It’s not a normal part of getting older.
How will I know if I have dementia?
Dementia is a medical conditionso it’s not something you can diagnose yourselfunless you have specialist skills and knowledge. The most important thing to knowif you’re having problems with your memory or thinkingis when to see your GP.
Dementia is different from ‘just getting old’ because:
- Your mental abilities become noticeably worse over several monthsas opposed to more gradual changes over many years.
- You find it increasingly difficult to manage everyday tasks and activities by yourself.
Sometimes it can be hard to see these changes in yourself. You may need to listen to people close to you.
If they say that something’s not rightor if they’re worried about youit could be a good idea to check in with your GP. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you have dementia – just that something might be wrong.
Signs of dementia
Dementia is a group of symptoms. It’s caused by different diseases that damage the brain.
The symptoms of dementia may be small to start withbut get worse over time and include:
- Memory loss.
- Confusion and needing help with daily tasks.
- Problems with language and understanding.
- Changes in moodbehaviour or personality.
Below are some examples of some of the possible signs of dementia compared to more typical signs of normal ageing.
It’s important not to use this information to try to diagnose dementia in yourself or someone else. Dementia can only be diagnosed by a qualified health professional.
Memory and new information
Possible signs of dementia:
- Forgetting something you were only recently told. You may ask for the same information repeatedly – for example'Are the doors locked?'
- Putting objects in unusual places – for exampleputting your house keys in the refrigerator.
- Being unable to learn new taskslike how to use a new washing machine.
Common signs of ageing:
- Forgetting something you were told a while agoor where you put somethinglike your phonebut being able to retrace your steps to find it.
Planning and decision making
Possible signs of dementia:
- Getting very confused when planning or thinking things through.
- Struggling to stay focused on a single task.
- Not making informedcareful decisions when dealing with money or looking at risks.
- Finding it hard to manage regular paymentsbudgets or monthly bills.
Common signs of ageing:
- Being a bit slower to process things and hold onto details.
- You might occasionally make a mistake if you’re following a new process.
Language (speech and conversation)
Possible signs of dementia:
- Having frequent problems finding the right word or regularly referring to objects as 'that thing'.
- Finding it hard to take part in conversations.
- Regularly being unable to follow what someone is saying even without distractions.
Common signs of ageing:
- Occasionally struggling to find the right word or to follow a conversationbut only when there are distractions.
Orientation (having a sense of time and place)
Possible signs of dementia:
- Losing track of the dateseason or the passage of time.
- Getting lost in a place that is familiar or that should be easy to find your way around – for examplea supermarket.
- Regularly being unable to follow what someone is saying even without distractions.
Common signs of ageing:
- Getting briefly confused about the day or the week but quickly realising.
- You might find that you get lost in a place you don’t know wellbut are able to figure out where you need to be.
Vision and perception (understanding what is being seen)
Possible signs of dementia:
- Having problems making sense of what you see. For examplehaving difficulty judging distances on stairsor mistaking reflections or patterns for other objects.
Common signs of ageing:
- Having misty or cloudy visioncaused by cataracts or other changes in the eyes.
Mood and behaviour
Possible signs of dementia:
- Becoming withdrawn and losing interest in workfriends or hobbies.
- Feeling unusually sadanxiousfrightened or low in confidence.
- Getting easily upset at homeat workwith friends or in places that usually feel comfortable or familiar.
Common signs of ageing:
- Sometimes feeling anxious and reluctant to join in at workfamily and social meetings.
- Being irritated when a routine is disruptedbut being able to cope with the change.
- Use our symptoms checklist to make notes about any concerns you may have before visiting your GP.
Dementia Support Line
Dementia Support Forum
- Causes of memory problems
- You are here: Do I have dementia?
- Talking to someone about their memory problems
People often forget things more as they get older. Most often this is a normal sign of ageing. If a problem is mildly annoying but doesn’t affect your ability to do things in everyday lifethen it’s unlikely to be a sign of dementia.
For examplemany people find as they get older that they are more likely to:
For most peoplethese are not early signs of dementia.