Memory loss, often a symptom people first associate with dementia, may be the first noticeable sign, particularly in Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, and dementia with Lewy bodies. However, it may not be an initial symptom of frontotemporal dementia. Recognising these differences early on is essential to getting an accurate diagnosis and access to the right treatment and care.

Having trouble thinking things through or planning can be frustrating for someone with dementia and can make it hard to handle tasks that require more thinking, leading to confusion and indecision, especially with complicated tasks like managing finances. Getting help and learning strategies to work through this thinking and planning can really help overcome these challenges.

People with vascular dementia often have trouble with language and communication. This can mean struggling to find the right words, keeping up with conversations, or having trouble speaking. This can make it hard for them to talk with others and might lead to frustration or feeling alone. Getting help from speech therapists and trying other ways to communicate can make a big difference.

Struggling with orientation, even in places they know well, can be unsettling and scary for people with dementia. Managing this symptom can be difficult and often requires help from others - using strategies to improve orientation and minimise confusion here is key, like keeping the person occupied, maintaining familiar surroundings and sticking to a regular daily routine.

Recognising signs of dementia includes noticing changes in mood like feeling anxious, sad, or easily irritated, or behaviours like becoming socially withdrawn. It’s also important to note that different types of dementia can cause different behaviour changes. Understanding these differences helps with spotting dementia early and managing it properly.

Emotionally, individuals may experience reduced empathy, irritability, increased anxiety, withdrawal, mood swings and isolation from family life. Personality changes can include irrational decision-making, secrecy,the development of new habits or activities that are typically out of character, a shift in humor, and difficulty adapting to change. Behaviorally, people may show apathy, a loss of motivation and lack of energy, obsessive or impulsive actions, changes in sexual behavior, aggression, and a decline in personal routines and hygiene.

Signs of asphasia can make it difficult for a person to find their words, meaning they have a reduced vocabulary, and are vague and speak less fluently. Alternatively they can also be over-detailed but failing to reach a point, as well as physically displaying slurred speech and changes in handwriting. These issues around communication often injures a person’s confidence meaning their connection with others suffers.

Some forms of young onset dementia can lead to changes in a person’s physical skills affecting gait. This can look like shuffling, slower walking speed and shorter strides, as well as issues around balance and coordination, which is particularly heightened with a loss of dexterity and mobility.

Some forms of young onset dementia can cause changes in visual and spatial awareness, primarily as a result of the brain’s interpretation of what is in sight. For example, this can look like a misjudgement when driving or reaching for objects due to a difficulty in perceiving depth, volume and distances.