Five key signs you may have dementia and should see your GP
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It's estimated that a staggering 982,000 people in the UK are living with dementia, and this figure is expected to rise to 1.4million by 2040. The diagnosis of Hollywood actor Bruce Willis with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a lesser-known form of the disease that affects behaviour and language, has brought the issue into sharp focus. According to the NHS, dementia primarily affects those over 65, with the risk of developing the condition doubling every five years after this age.
Stewart McGinn, Managing Director at Baycroft Care Homes, has stressed the significance of spotting early warning signs of FTD. He said: "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 explained how FTD predominantly impacts areas of the brain associated with personality, behaviour and speech, mainly located at the frontal and temporal lobes. This results in symptoms appearing primarily in these functions. In his efforts to encourage early detection, the care expert highlighted certain "early" symptoms to look out for...
He said: "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.". Furthermore, he highlighted that those with dementia might start finding organisation and planning exceedingly challenging, with concentration becoming "harder" as the disease advances.
