Dementia is an upsetting and life-changing diagnosis for both the affected person and their family. It is a syndrome, or a group of symptoms, associated with the progressive decline of the brain.
As a result it typically affects memory and behaviour, and even mobility over time. Many of us are aware of these more common signs.
However, there are some lesser known symptoms that are still worth following up with a medical professional.
Although there is no cure for dementia, there are treatments and support available to help ease symptoms.
Therefore, the sooner you spot the signs the sooner you can help the affected person get the help they need.
According to an expert, one sign of dementia can occur “frequently” throughout the day.
Speaking with Express.co.uk , Dr Rayaz Malik – professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine in Qatar, warned about people taking naps throughout the day.
He said: “Taking frequent daytime naps is also a notable behaviour associated with certain conditions, including dementia, and losing interest in friends and family is a sign that may indicate dementia.”
This is supported by the Alzheimer’s Society, which says that people in the later stages of dementia have a tendency to feel sleepy.
“It is quite common for a person with dementia, especially in the later stages, to spend a lot of their time sleeping – both during the day and night,” the charity explains.
“This can sometimes be distressing for the person’s family and friends, as they may worry that something is wrong.
“Sleeping more and more is a common feature of later-stage dementia.
“As the disease progresses, the damage to a person’s brain becomes more extensive and they gradually become weaker and frailer over time.”
Sleep problems in general are quite common among people with dementia.
The Alzheimer’s Society lists these as:
- Sleeping during the day and being awake and restless during the night
- Becoming disorientated in the dark if they wake up to use the toilet
- Waking up more often and staying awake longer during the night
- Getting up in the early hours and thinking it’s day time or time to go to work (disorientation in time)
- Not being able to tell the difference between night and day.
“Nobody completely understands why dementia affects sleeping patterns,” it says.
“For some people, it may be that their internal ‘biological clock’, which judges what time it is, becomes damaged so the person starts to feel sleepy at the wrong time of day.
“There are also other parts of the brain which control whether or not we stay awake, and these may also not work properly if they become damaged.”
Dr Malik shared other signs of dementia to look for:
- Short term memory loss
- Challenges with routine tasks, such as driving to familiar places
- Cognitive impairment may lead to difficulties in keeping a track of the day of the week, month or even year
- Vision and spatial awareness
- Naming objects becomes a challenge
- Social interactions may decline
- Changes in mood, including over-forgetfulness and depression.
He added: “The best thing is to speak to a doctor for them to be evaluated with a short screening test to evaluate memory.”