How can I tell whether someone has dementia and what can I do?
There are various signs that might mean someone has dementia. These include forgetfulness, communication problems or changes in behaviour. If you think that someone you know might have dementia, or that you might have it, always consult a doctor.
Symptoms of dementia
- forgetfulness;
- communication problems;
- changes in behaviour;
- difficulty coping with everyday tasks, like shopping or using a computer.
What can you do?
Have you got symptoms that might indicate dementia? Or do you think that someone close to you might have dementia? If so, you should consult a doctor.
Most common forms of dementia
Dementia is a collective name for the symptoms of diseases that damage the brain. The most common is Alzheimer’s disease. Other forms of dementia include:
- Parkinson’s disease;
- Korsakoff syndrome;
- Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).
Early-onset dementia
Dementia isn’t just something that older people get. It can strike earlier in life. At present there are about 12,000 cases of early-onset dementia in the Netherlands. Early-onset dementia usually starts between the ages of 40 and 65.
People with early-onset dementia often have different symptoms to elderly people with dementia. Their behaviour can change more, and they can have greater difficulty in carrying out everyday tasks. But they don’t tend to be so forgetful. As a result, this type of dementia often isn’t diagnosed until a later stage.