This week is Dementia Action Week, the annual campaign led by the Alzheimer's Society to bring people and organisations together to act on dementia. At Bluebird Care Sunderland and Durham North, it is a week that means a great deal to us. Every day, our team supports people living with dementia across Sunderland and County Durham, and we know first-hand how life-changing an early diagnosis can be.
This year, we have been particularly moved by the story of Jordan and Cian Adams, known as the FTD Brothers. Jordan, aged 30, ran the London Marathon carrying a 25kg fridge on his back before embarking on a marathon a day across every county in Ireland alongside his 25-year-old brother Cian. Both brothers carry a rare inherited gene that gives them a 99.9% chance of developing frontotemporal dementia in their 40s. They lost their mother Geraldine to the disease when she was just 52, along with 12 other relatives. They are running to raise one million pounds for dementia research, and to show the world that dementia can devastate lives at any age.
Their story is a reminder that dementia does not discriminate. It can affect anyone, at any stage of life. And the earlier it is spotted, the sooner people can access the support, care, and treatment they need.
So what should we all be looking out for?
Dementia Is More Common Than Many People Realise
Before we look at the signs, it helps to understand the scale of the issue. Every three minutes, someone in the UK develops dementia. One in three people born in the UK today will go on to develop it in their lifetime. Dementia is currently the UK's biggest killer, and yet incredibly, one in three people living with dementia in the UK do not have a diagnosis.
Awareness is the first step to changing that.
Dementia Does Not Only Affect Older People
One of the most common misconceptions about dementia is that it is simply a condition of old age. The story of the FTD Brothers puts that myth firmly to rest. Frontotemporal dementia, one of the most common causes of young onset dementia, can begin to show symptoms in people in their 40s and 50s. Thousands of people across the UK are living with an early onset dementia diagnosis while still working, raising children, and leading active lives.
This means that spotting early signs should not be something we only consider for elderly relatives. If something does not feel right about a friend, a partner, a parent in their 50s or even a colleague, it is always worth paying attention.
What Are the Early Signs of Dementia?
The early signs of dementia can be subtle, and they vary depending on the type of dementia involved. Dementia is an umbrella term covering a range of progressive brain conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and frontotemporal dementia. Each can present differently, which is why it is important to look at the whole picture rather than a single symptom in isolation.
That said, there are several common early warning signs that families and friends should be aware of.
Memory loss that disrupts daily life
Some degree of forgetfulness is a normal part of ageing. However, dementia-related memory loss is different. It tends to be more persistent and more disruptive. Someone in the early stages of dementia might frequently forget recent conversations, repeat the same questions within a short space of time, misplace objects regularly, or struggle to recall the names of people they know well. Importantly, short-term memory is often affected first, particularly in Alzheimer's disease, while older memories may remain intact for longer.
Disorientation to time and place
Losing track of the date occasionally is something most of us do. But someone showing early signs of dementia might become confused about what day, month, or even year it is, and struggle to reorient themselves. They may get lost in places that were once completely familiar to them, or lose their sense of direction on a route they have walked many times before.
Difficulty with familiar tasks
When dementia begins to take hold, tasks that were once second nature can become genuinely challenging. This might be managing household finances, following a familiar recipe, operating appliances that have always been straightforward, or planning and organising day-to-day activities. If someone seems to be struggling with things they have done independently for years, it is worth taking note.
Changes in language and communication
Word-finding difficulties are one of the earlier signs many families notice. Someone might pause frequently mid-sentence, use the wrong word, or describe an object rather than name it because the word has slipped away. They may also have difficulty following conversations or lose their train of thought. These changes can be easy to dismiss as tiredness or stress, but if they are happening regularly, they deserve attention.
Shifts in mood, personality, and behaviour
Dementia can bring noticeable changes in how a person feels and behaves. Someone who was previously calm and sociable might become anxious, suspicious, withdrawn, or unusually irritable. They may lose motivation for hobbies and activities they once enjoyed, or begin to behave in ways that feel out of character. These emotional and behavioural changes can sometimes appear before more obvious memory symptoms, particularly in frontotemporal dementia.
Poor judgement and decision-making
This might look like making unusual financial decisions, becoming vulnerable to scams, neglecting personal hygiene, or showing a reduced ability to assess risk. A person might make choices that seem impulsive or out of keeping with their usual values and personality.
Withdrawal from social life
As dementia progresses in its early stages, some people begin to pull away from the things and people they love. Social situations can become harder to navigate when memory and communication are affected, and withdrawal is often a way of coping. If a previously sociable person seems to be avoiding social contact, this can be one of the more telling early signs.
When Should You Seek Help?
If you are noticing any of these signs in someone you care about, or even in yourself, the most important thing to do is speak to a GP. It is easy to put off these conversations, especially if the changes seem mild or if you are worried about worrying the person concerned. But early diagnosis genuinely matters. It gives people access to the right care, treatment, and support at the right time, and it allows them to plan for the future while they still can.
Do not assume someone is too young for dementia to be a possibility. Do not wait for things to get worse before raising concerns. And do not feel as though you need to have all the answers before picking up the phone.
At Bluebird Care Sunderland and Durham North, our team is always available for a conversation. We support families at every stage, from those first concerns through to specialist dementia care at home, and we can help point you in the right direction if you are not sure where to start.
What Bluebird Care Sunderland and Durham North Is Doing This Dementia Action Week
As part of Dementia Action Week, our team across Sunderland and Durham North is proud to be wearing the Forget Me Not badge in solidarity with everyone affected by dementia. The Forget Me Not is the symbol of the Alzheimer's Society's campaign, and this year it sits at the heart of their Forget Me Not Appeal, a movement of hope, action and unity.
We are also encouraging everyone in our community to become a Dementia Friend. The Alzheimer's Society's Dementia Friends programme is free, takes just an hour, and helps people understand what dementia is and how they can make a difference in their community. Visit www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-involved/dementia-friends to find out more.
We Are Here for You
Whether you have just noticed something that does not feel quite right, or you are already supporting a loved one through a dementia diagnosis, you do not have to navigate this alone.
Bluebird Care Sunderland and Durham North provides specialist dementia care in the home, enabling people to remain in the familiar surroundings they know and love for as long as possible. Our care professionals receive specialist dementia training and are experienced in supporting people with all types of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, and frontotemporal dementia.
Get in touch with our friendly team today. We are here to help.