These warning signs of dementia might become noticeable during busy shopping periods
Two red flags of dementia could emerge whilst doing your Christmas shopping, experts have warned. Should you notice either of these signs in relatives, you should seek medical advice.
Dementia is a syndrome, or group of symptoms, associated with the gradual decline of cognitive function. This leads to warning indicators such as memory problems, behavioural alterations, and difficulties with communication and speech.
Experts from the Alzheimer’s Society note that it can also cause misperceptions and misidentifications. This happens when someone sees one item as something else entirely – or mistakes one person for another. Various factors can lead to this occurrence.
For example, the organisation outlined that someone might mistake their television remote for their mobile phone due to impaired visual processing, which prevents proper recognition (misperceived) of the television remote. Or this may occur because the remote may be perfectly visible, brain damage results in it being incorrectly interpreted (misidentified) as a mobile phone.
“A person with dementia may also have ‘visuospatial difficulties’, when the brain has problems processing information about 3D objects,” the charity explains. “This can affect a person’s spatial awareness or the ability to judge distances. They may have difficulties using stairs, parking a car or recognising objects.”
Misperceptions and misidentifications often become more pronounced as people age, since eyesight generally declines over the years. This deterioration can result in numerous difficulties while undertaking shopping excursions.
The Alzheimer’s Society observes that people living with dementia may face obstacles when shopping. For example, they might:
- Try to present a bus pass rather than a payment card
- Or struggle to choose the appropriate coins when completing a transaction
“Some misperceptions and misidentifications can lead a person with dementia to make errors in how they use an object,” the charity explains on its website. The NHS similarly emphasises that “getting confused over the correct change when shopping” represents a possible indication of dementia.
How to assist someone with these symptoms
Should you notice someone demonstrating these behaviours, the charity has outlined how to provide support. It recommends: “A person with dementia who is misperceiving or misidentifying things may feel unsure about their surroundings, and feel less confident and independent.
“You can support the person by reassuring them when they make mistakes, and build their confidence and willingness to go to new places. If they do not notice that they are making mistakes, it could be that they lack insight into their dementia. They may become irritated or more easily frustrated if you point out mistakes.
“Familiar surroundings can be helpful to a person who is misperceiving or misidentifying. This is because they may rely more on memory and habit than on perception to move safely around their home. Try not to move furniture, or change where things are kept, as this can make it more difficult for them to relate to their space.”
Further warning indicators of dementia to be mindful of include:
- Memory loss
- Difficulty concentrating
- Struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word
- Being confused about time and place
- Mood changes
It’s estimated that nearly one million people in the UK are living with dementia. Should you or a loved one display these symptoms, seeking advice from a GP is recommended.
