Although some symptoms are common to many people with dementia, each person’s experience of the illness will be different. Symptoms of dementia may include:
Memory loss
This particularly affects short-term memory, for example forgetting what happened earlier in the day, not being able to recall conversations, being repetitive or forgetting the way home from the shops. Long-term memory – remembering things that happened in the past – is usually still quite good.
Increasing difficulty with tasks and activities needing concentration and planning
This could be in making decisions or solving problems. Also, in the latter stages of dementia, the person affected will have problems carrying out everyday tasks and will become increasingly dependent on other people.
Personality and mood changes
People with dementia may be withdrawn, sad, frightened or angry about what is happening to them.
Periods of mental confusion
People with dementia may struggle with mental reasoning.
