Experts warn that forgetting to turn on the oven and struggling to prepare vegetables for Christmas dinner can be warning signs of dementia.
More than 900,000 Britons and 7 million Americans are thought to have dementia, but around a third are undiagnosed.
According to dr. According to Dr Tim Rittman, consultant neurologist at Addenbrookes Memory Clinic in Cambridge, activities during the holidays can be the trigger for symptoms to appear.
“Many of the things we do at Christmas actually use some cognitive functions of the brain,” he says.
From not understanding a board game to getting lost in a relative’s house, MailOnline highlights some warning signs your loved one may be suffering from dementia.
Dementia affects more than 900,000 Britons and 7 million Americans. If you notice that a member of your family has problems with conversation, organization and memory, it could be a warning sign that they have dementia
I can’t play board games
Playing a board game at Christmas is said to stimulate the parts of the brain that control attention, memory and problem solving.
It tests cognitive function – the skills that are slowly lost in people with dementia.
If it is a family member Difficulty following the rules or forgetting whose turn it is can be a sign of the disease, says Dr. Rittman.
“I think there are many reasons why someone with Alzheimer’s disease might have trouble playing a board game,” says Dr. Rittman.
“It could be that you’re impulsive and can’t figure it out or learn the rules, or your memory is impaired and you can’t remember exactly what happened in the last round.”
Struggling to cook Christmas dinner
Preparing a big Christmas dinner takes a lot of planning and organization, from buying the ingredients to preparing and cooking.
Most people “stick it out and end up serving everything on the table,” says Dr. Rittman.
But for people with dementia, things can go so wrong that someone else has to step in and help, he says.
People with frontotemporal dementia may struggle the most. This type affects the front of the brain, which helps with organization.
Dr. Rittman said: “Sequencing can be difficult in Alzheimer’s disease when you forget what you are doing and struggle to keep track.
“But also with other forms of dementia, which are mainly about organization, coordination and the like.”
Gifts forgotten
It’s easy to forget something during the holidays when you’re writing cards, buying gifts, and preparing food.
Constantly forgetting a loved one’s name and not bringing a gift from a more distant relative such as a niece or nephew can be an early warning sign of dementia
But missing people on the Christmas gift list, sending two Christmas cards and constantly forgetting the names of family members can be an indication of memory malaise.
Dr. Rittman says, “If they didn’t have problems writing the Christmas cards before, but this year they miss it or send people two Christmas cards.” [that could be a signal].
“The same goes for gifts.” You should not forget or lose important gifts.
“It’s good to lose a gift here and there, but if everything doesn’t work out, it’s a bigger problem.”
He adds: “Forgetting your Christmas cards, losing your keys, not being able to cook Christmas dinner and struggling to manage your finances are all signs.”
Get lost in the house
Many people travel at Christmas to stay at relatives’ homes.
For people with dementia, this can lead to them ending up in the wrong room of a familiar house.
“If you go to your son or daughter’s house at Christmas and get lost, that’s a concern. “This navigational memory is often one of the first things to be affected in Alzheimer’s disease,” says Dr. Rittman.
You don’t need to worry if someone finally finds the right room, but there is cause for concern if, for example, they try to find the bathroom and end up outside, he says.
He explains: “There are forms of dementia that cause visual and spatial problems, so you just can’t tell where things are.”
“People often find it very difficult to describe that things just don’t look quite right and that they can’t find objects in front of them.”
“They might struggle to reverse the car. For example, they might fall back into the fence because they can’t notice or see where the car is in relation to the car.”
Do not follow conversations
There is always a lot of talk at Christmas dinner.
Trouble keeping track of what’s going on—forgetting names and places and losing track of what’s being said—can be a sign of dementia.
Dr Rittman said: “We get people with these types of attention-memory problems that are not due to dementia.” They can still describe a lot about what happened, but don’t remember the details, but they can talk. around it.
If you experience these symptoms, it is recommended to see a doctor. Early diagnosis can help you get the right treatment and support
“While people with dementia often forget that anything even happened.”
For example, someone with dementia may forget a big family event like a wedding or even forget they were on holiday.
Rather than just being a memory problem linked to dementia, it could be a sign of difficulty speaking and understanding words – rare symptoms of frontotemporal dementia, Mr Rittman said.
He says: “There are other causes, such as stroke, brain tumors and things that can affect functions in the right part of the brain.”
“But there are certainly forms of dementia that can affect the way you put sentences together or the way you put words and syllables together.”
I’m having trouble following the TV Christmas special
Christmas TV specials can be a central part of festive celebrations.
But forgetting the main characters or feeling slightly confused about the plot are common signs of dementia.
“Not being able to follow what’s happening in a film, forgetting a storyline from one sequence to the next or not recognizing people” are classic warning signs of dementia, said Dr. Rittman.
It may be related to the disease that makes it difficult Recognize faces, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
What should you do?
People experiencing these symptoms are advised to see a doctor so a diagnosis can be made.
A doctor can run tests to rule out other common conditions that can cause dementia-like symptoms and, if necessary, make a referral to a memory clinic for further testing, says Alzheimer’s Research UK.
There is currently no cure for dementia, but treatment includes medication and therapy.
Dr Susan Mitchell, head of policy – prevention, early detection and diagnosis at Alzheimer’s Research UK, told MailOnline: “These symptoms can be frightening, not only for the affected person, but also for their loved ones.”
“It’s important to raise awareness so people can seek the help they need from their GP to find out what’s going on, whether it’s dementia or something else.”
“By recognizing early signs that may indicate dementia, people can hopefully get an accurate, timely diagnosis and access the help they need.”
WHAT IS DEMENTIA?
Dementia is an umbrella term for a number of neurological diseases
A GLOBAL CARE
Dementia is an umbrella term that describes a range of progressive neurological diseases (affecting the brain) that affect memory, thinking and behaviour.
There are many forms of dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common.
Some people may experience a combination of different forms of dementia.
Regardless of which type is diagnosed, each person experiences dementia in their own unique way.
Dementia is a global problem, but occurs most in wealthier countries where people are likely to live to a very old age.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ASKED?
The Alzheimer’s Association reports that there are currently over 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK. This number is expected to rise to 1.6 million by 2040.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting between 50 and 75 percent of those diagnosed.
There are an estimated 5.5 million people with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States. A similar percentage increase is expected in the coming years.
As you age, the risk of developing dementia increases.
The number of diagnoses is increasing, but it is believed that many people with dementia are still undiagnosed.
Is there any treatment?
There is currently no medication for dementia.
But new medications can slow the progression of the disease, and the earlier it is detected, the more effective treatments can be.
Source: Alzheimer’s Association
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
