Early Alzheimer’s disease symptoms include effects on memory, such as forgetting recent events or names, misplacing things, being disorientated or unsure of the time or date, as well as repetition or having problems finding the right word. Mood changes such as depression, anxiety or being irritable may happen.³⁰

As Alzheimer’s progresses, physical changers may develop such as difficulties walking or swallowing, and hallucinations may occur. Patients are more likely to experience sundowning where confusion and anxiety increases from sun set through the evening.

Vascular dementia symptoms can be similar to Alzheimer’s with memory problems, disorientation and communication difficulties. In addition, early symptoms might include impaired language, reading and writing skills, mood changes, walking difficulties or incontinence.²

Frontotemporal dementia accounts for 1 in 20 dementia cases and tends to start at a younger age – mid 40s to 60s. The frontal and temporal lobes of the brain control personality, emotions and behaviour, as well as speech and verbal reasoning. Day-to-day memory is initially much less impacted than in Alzheimer’s.³¹

Early symptoms include changes in emotions, inappropriate behaviour, developing obsessions, and a lack of self-interest, eg not washing or dressing properly. Communicating difficulties (aphasia) include forgetting word meanings and not recognising people or objects. Motor skills and aspects such as bladder or bowel control may also be affected.

Dementia with Lewy bodies affects alertness and attention and can vary over a few hours or days. It is associated with reduced mobility, visual hallucinations, difficulty with planning and orientation, sleep disturbances and changes to taste and smell. Memory may be affected but this tends to be later than with Alzheimer’s.³²