Dementia is the name given to a group of symptoms linked to an ongoing decline in brain function. You could be at risk of the neurodegenerative condition if you start to lose your memory.
There are a number of different types of dementia, and the most common in the UK is Alzheimer’s disease.
Diagnosing the condition early could help to slow down the condition’s progress.
Making some small lifestyle changes could lower your chances of developing Alzheimer’s in later life.
The most common early signs of dementia is memory loss.
Memory loss is one of the earliest warning symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, according to charity the Alzheimer’s Disease International.
Short-term memory is more commonly affected during the initial stages of the condition.
Your memory loss is more likely to be caused by dementia if you also forget the context of the situation.
That means to say that you may not only forget one fact, but you could also forget another fact that’s linked to the first fact.
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“Declining memory, especially short-term memory, is the most common early symptom of dementia,” said the charity.
“People with ordinary forgetfulness can still remember other facts associated with the thing they have forgotten.
“For example, they may briefly forget their next-door neighbour’s name but they still know the person they are talking to is their next-door neighbour.
“A person with dementia will not only forget their neighbour’s name but also the context.”
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Meanwhile, you could also be at risk of the neurodegenerative condition if you find it difficult to complete everyday tasks.
Struggling to navigate your car journey to a common destination is one of the earliest warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
Some patients also struggle to organise a shopping list, or remember the rules of their favourite game.
But, again, it’s completely normal to need extra help as we get older, and it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have dementia.
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There’s no certain way to prevent dementia from developing, but there are ways to lower your risk, said the NHS.
Eating a healthy, balanced diet should help to lower your chances of developing dementia.
It’s also important to do enough exercise. Everyone should aim to do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity every week.
There are around 850,000 people in the UK with dementia, and the condition affects one in every six people over 80 years old.
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