Not all of these features will be present in every person, nor will every person go through every stage and phase of dementia Slow, insidious onset, Impaired long- and short-term memory, Deterioration of cognitive abilities judgment, abstract thinking, Often irreversible if untreated, Personality changes, No or slow EEG changes.
Early dementia
- Appear more apathetic, with less sparkle.
- Lose interest in hobbies or activities.
- Be unwilling to try new things.
- Be unable to adapt to change.
- Show poor judgement and make poor decisions.
- Be slower to grasp complex ideas and take longer with routine jobs.
- Blame others for ‘stealing’ lost items.
- Become more self-centred and less concerned with others and their feelings.
- Become more forgetful of details of recent events.
- Be more likely to repeat themselves or lose the thread of their conversation.
- Be more irritable or upset if they fail at something.
- Have difficulty handling money.
Moderate dementia
- Be very forgetful of recent events. Memory for the distant past seems better, but some details may be forgotten or confused.
- Be confused regarding time and place.
- Become lost if away from familiar surroundings.
- Forget names of family or friends, or confuse one family member with another.
- Forget saucepans and kettles on the stove. May leave gas unlit.
- Wander around streets, perhaps at night, sometimes becoming lost.
- Behave inappropriately – for example, going outdoors in their nightwear.
- See or hear things that are not there.
- Become very repetitive.
- Be neglectful of hygiene or eating.
- Become angry, upset or distressed through frustration.
Severe dementia
- Be unable to remember – for even a few minutes – that they have had, for example, a meal.
- Lose their ability to understand or use speech.
- Be incontinent.
- Show no recognition of friends and family.
- Need help with eating, washing, bathing, using the toilet or dressing.
- Fail to recognise everyday objects.
- Be disturbed at night.
- Be restless, perhaps looking for a long dead relative.
- Be aggressive, especially when feeling threatened or closed in.
- Have difficulty walking, eventually perhaps becoming confined to a wheelchair.
- Have uncontrolled movements.