Do I have dementia?

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 with, but get worse over time and include:

• Memory loss.
• Confusion and needing help with daily tasks.
• Problems with language and understanding.
• Changes in mood, behaviour 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 example, putting your house keys in the refrigerator.
• Being unable to learn new tasks, like how to use a new washing machine.

Common signs of ageing:

• Forgetting something you were told a while ago, or where you put something, like your phone, but 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 informed, careful decisions when dealing with money or looking at risks.
• Finding it hard to manage regular payments, budgets 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 conversation, but only when there are distractions.

Orientation (having a sense of time and place)

Possible signs of dementia:

• Losing track of the date, season or the passage of time.
• Getting lost in a place that is familiar or that should be easy to find your way around – for example, a 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 well, but 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 example, having difficulty judging distances on stairs, or mistaking reflections or patterns for other objects.

Common signs of ageing:

• Having misty or cloudy vision, caused by cataracts or other changes in the eyes.

Mood and behaviour

Possible signs of dementia:

• Becoming withdrawn and losing interest in work, friends or hobbies.
• Feeling unusually sad, anxious, frightened or low in confidence.
• Getting easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places that usually feel comfortable or familiar.

Common signs of ageing: 

• Sometimes feeling anxious and reluctant to join in at work, family and social meetings.
• Being irritated when a routine is disrupted, but being able to cope with the change.

Use our symptoms checklist to make notes about any concerns you may have before visiting your GP.