Experts warn dementia can present with non-memory signs

Experts say dementia can show up long before memory loss becomes obvious, with a broader set of early warning signs. Dementia has been described as Britain's biggest killer, with about 944,000 people living with the condition in the United Kingdom and roughly 7 million in the United States.

Helen Metcalfe, one of Dementia UK's 450 Admiral Nurses, notes that the brain is highly complex and every journey is different; signs are often only recognised later. She stresses that memory loss is not the sole clue and that changes in behaviour or daily patterns can surface early. She cites examples such as shifts in dietary preferences or aversions to certain foods, colours, textures or smells, and even reports of a metallic taste at meals.

Jonathan Schott, chief medical officer for Alzheimer's Research UK and a professor of neurology at the Dementia Research Centre, UCL, says cognition is broader than memory and that some people with dementia may have relatively preserved memory while other areas such as vision or behaviour are affected. He notes that brain changes linked to dementia can begin many years before symptoms appear and start slowly.

Experts say there are nine early signs that can appear with or without memory loss. Signs can include unusual behaviour at mealtimes such as taking food from other plates, changes in empathy, and shifts in appetite or food preferences. Some individuals may develop a craving for sweet foods while others show aversions to certain colours, textures or smells. Others report vivid dreams or nightmares and even occasional hallucinations. Vision problems may show up as depth perception issues, leading to bumping into objects or misjudging steps. Speech can also change, and some forms of frontotemporal dementia can erode language. Primary progressive aphasia is described as losing a personal dictionary and having trouble finding the right word, while the behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia can cause disinhibition and in some cases inappropriate sexual behavior.

Lewy body dementia, which is related to Parkinson's disease, can cause coordination problems and visual hallucinations. A rarer variant known as posterior cortical atrophy tends to affect people in their 50s and 60s and is characterised by progressive degeneration of brain cells at the back of the brain that affects vision and perception.

Experts stress there is no cure for dementia, but early diagnosis allows time for personalised treatment plans to be put in place, including drugs and therapies that can slow progression and improve quality of life. With early support, families can plan for the future and access targeted care to help manage symptoms.