Dementia warning as study finds 6 in 10 adults think early signs ‘just old age’

Six in 10 adults put early signs of dementia down to old age – rather than the condition itself.

A poll, of 500 people who have a relative or loved one with the condition, revealed the common symptoms people often mistake for getting older, when they are in fact all signs of dementia.

Misplacing items, needing help with everyday tasks, and problems with judgements and decisions featured on the list.

While forgetting things they have just done or been told, and repeating the same question were also confused with ageing.

More than four in 10 (41 %) admit they first feared it could be dementia, but ‘brushed it under the carpet’, and put it down to getting older instead.

The study, commissioned by Care UK, also found 31 % believed such symptoms to be a normal part of ageing because they lacked knowledge at the time.

Suzanne Mumford, head of dementia and lifestyle for care home provider, said: “Awareness of dementia has improved, but many people still struggle to confidently differentiate between signs of old age and dementia.

“Understandably, it can also be a worrying time when a loved one starts acting out of character or begins to display symptoms of dementia.

“Yet, reaching out for support early on can make a world of difference – whether it’s speaking to an expert about how to manage symptoms or simply connecting with families who may be in a similar situation.

“That’s why we’re relaunching our Big Dementia Conversation for the second year running.

“We must continue to raise awareness of the condition and its symptoms in order to become a more dementia-friendly nation.”

The study also found that despite it taking an average of four months to realise certain symptoms could be dementia and not just old age, year-on-year comparisons show people are now more familiar with them.

Now, 44 % feel they would be able to recognise the different signs, whereas only 24 % said this in last year’s survey, both conducted via OnePoll.com.

Forgetting what they had just done or been told, repeating the same question, and not knowing where they were are among the things they started to notice first.

With struggling to find words, judgements and decisions, and misplacing items among the fastest developing symptoms.

A fifth started spotting these signs when their relative or loved one was in their early to mid-70s, with this leaving 71 per cent feeling upset, and 21 % confused.

Despite 94 % believing this confusion between the two is a common issue, 71 % feel there is little awareness around the differences between them.

But the yearly comparison also revealed misconceptions about the condition are still rife with 36 % believing it always includes memory loss – which isn’t far off the 34 per cent who said this last year.

And 20 % believe that if someone in their family is living with dementia then they are likely to develop it too.

This is more than the 17 % who said the same previously.

Suzanne, for Care UK, added: “Recognising the signs and getting a diagnosis is just the first step towards better support, rather than the end.

“Contrary to popular belief, there are many ways to prevent and manage symptoms to live well with dementia. This is something we’re passionate about, and we’d like to invite those keen to find out more to head to our content hub to hear our experts’ advice.”