Interactive
Let's talk about dementia
10 Warning
Signs
Dementia affects everyone differently but there are some common warning signs. Try this interactive by answering ‘Yes’ or “No’ to the questions. It is not a test for dementia, but if you are worried you should talk to your doctor and seek out more information.
Memory loss
1 Of 10Do you forget important events or information?
Declining memory, especially short-term memory, is the most common early symptom of dementia. People with ordinary forgetfulness can still remember other facts associated with the thing they have forgotten. For example, they may briefly forget their neighbor's name but they still know the person they are talking to is their neighbor. A person with dementia will not only forget their neighbor's name but also the context.
Performing familiar tasks
2 Of 10Do you experience difficulty performing familiar tasks?
People with dementia often find it hard to complete everyday tasks that are so familiar we usually do not think about how to do them. A person with dementia may not know in what order to put clothes on or the steps for preparing a meal.
Time and spatial disorientation
4 Of 10Are you ever disorientated by time or place?
We sometimes forget the day of the week or where we are going, but people with dementia can become lost in familiar places such as the road they live on, forget where they are or how they got there, and not know how to get back home. A person with dementia may also confuse night and day.
Misplacing things
7 Of 10Do you misplace things or put things in unusual places?
Anyone can temporarily misplace his or her wallet or keys. A person with dementia may put things in unusual places such as an iron in the fridge or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl.
Changes in mood and behavior
8 Of 10Do you experience changes in mood and behavior?
Everyone can become sad or moody from time to time. A person with dementia may become unusually emotional and experience rapid mood swings for no apparent reason. Alternatively, a person with dementia may show less emotion than was usual previously.
Trouble with images and spatial relationship
9 Of 10Do you have trouble with images, color or spatial awareness?
Image problems are different from typical age-related problems, such as cataracts. People with dementia can have difficulty in reading, judging distances, and in determining color or contrast.
Loss of initiative
10 Of 10Have you lost interest in work or social activity?
At times everyone can become tired of housework, business activities, or social obligations. However, a person with dementia may become very passive, sitting in front of the television for hours, sleeping more than usual, or appear to lose interest in hobbies.
