Early Signs of Dementia: What to Look For (and What to Do Next)

By Len Burgess, Senior Care Advisor · Published 29 July 2026

Worried about a parent's memory? A calm, practical guide to the early signs of dementia, how they differ from normal ageing, and the steps to take if you are concerned.

Very few families spot dementia in a single moment. It usually creeps up as a series of small things: a missed appointment, the same story told twice in an afternoon, a bill left unpaid, a familiar recipe that suddenly seems complicated. Individually, each one is easy to explain away. Together, over months, they start to form a pattern that is harder to ignore.

If you have started to worry about a parent or relative, this guide will help you understand what the early signs of dementia actually look like, how they differ from ordinary ageing, and what to do next. None of it is a substitute for a doctor, but knowing what to look for makes it far easier to have the right conversation at the right time.

Dementia is not the same as normal ageing

Almost everyone becomes a little more forgetful as they get older. Occasionally losing your keys, forgetting a name and remembering it later, or walking into a room and forgetting why are all normal. Dementia is different because it involves an ongoing decline that begins to affect everyday life. The question to keep in mind is not "is Mum forgetful?" but "has something changed, and is it getting in the way of daily living?"

The early signs to look for

Dementia affects people differently, but these are the changes families most often notice first:

• Memory that affects daily life. Forgetting recently learned information, important dates or events, asking the same question over and over, or relying heavily on notes and reminders for things they used to manage easily.
• Trouble with familiar tasks. Struggling to follow a recipe they have cooked for years, manage the TV remote or a mobile phone, or handle money and bills.
• Problems with words. Losing the thread of a conversation, struggling to find the right word, or calling things by the wrong name.
• Getting confused about time or place. Losing track of the date, the season or the year, or becoming disorientated somewhere that should be familiar.
• Poorer judgement and decisions. Falling for scams, dressing unsuitably for the weather, or making uncharacteristic decisions with money.
• Withdrawing from hobbies and company. Dropping activities, clubs or social occasions they used to enjoy, sometimes because keeping up has become an effort.
• Changes in mood or personality. Becoming more anxious, irritable, suspicious or low, particularly in situations that feel unfamiliar or demanding.

Why a change matters more than a single moment

The most useful thing you can pay attention to is not any one incident, but whether the person is different from how they used to be. A lifelong poor speller who still cannot spell is not a concern. Someone who has always been sharp with money and is now leaving bills unpaid is a change worth noticing. When you talk to a GP, describing what is different, and roughly when it started, is far more helpful than a list of one-off slips.

It might not be dementia

This is important, and often reassuring. Many things can cause memory and thinking problems that look like dementia but are not, and some of them are treatable. Depression, stress, poor sleep, urine and chest infections, thyroid problems, vitamin deficiencies and the side effects of certain medicines can all affect how well someone thinks and remembers. That is one of the best reasons to see a GP rather than quietly assuming the worst.

A quick, private way to check

If you are not sure whether what you are seeing is worth acting on, our free dementia signs checklist can help. It is based on the AD8, a short screening tool used by clinicians, and you answer eight simple questions about changes you have noticed in your relative. It takes about two minutes, it works entirely in your browser, and it does not ask for any personal details or save your answers. It will not diagnose anything, but it will help you decide whether it is time to speak to a GP.

How to raise it, gently

Talking to someone about their memory is delicate. Choose a calm, private moment, lead with love rather than a list of failings, and focus on specific, practical worries ("I have noticed the post is piling up, shall we look at it together?") rather than the word dementia. Offering to go to the GP together, and to be there in the appointment, often makes the difference between someone agreeing to go and putting it off.

Getting a diagnosis

The first step is a routine GP appointment. The GP will usually talk through the symptoms, carry out some simple memory and thinking checks, and arrange tests to rule out other causes. If dementia is a possibility, they can refer on to a memory clinic or specialist for a fuller assessment. A clear diagnosis, even when it is the news you feared, opens the door to treatment, support, benefits and the chance to plan ahead while the person can still take part in the decisions.

Where to get support

You do not have to work this out alone. The Alzheimer's Society Dementia Support Line (0333 150 3456) offers free, confidential advice from trained advisers, and the NHS website has clear information on symptoms, diagnosis and living with dementia. When you are ready to look at care options, CareAssura can help you find dementia care near you and understand how it is funded.

Noticing the early signs is not about labelling someone or rushing them into care. It is about getting them seen, ruling out the things that can be put right, and making sure that whatever comes next, they and you face it with the right support around you.

Sources

• NHS: Dementia guide
• Alzheimer's Society
• Dementia UK

Frequently asked questions

What are the very first signs of dementia?

The earliest signs are usually subtle changes rather than dramatic ones: repeating questions or stories, misplacing things more often, struggling to find words, losing track of dates, or quietly dropping hobbies and social activities. What matters most is whether these represent a change from how the person used to be, and whether they are starting to affect everyday life.

How is dementia different from normal ageing?

Occasional forgetfulness, like losing your keys or forgetting a name and recalling it later, is a normal part of getting older. Dementia involves an ongoing decline in memory or thinking that begins to interfere with daily living, such as struggling to manage money, follow a familiar recipe or find the way around a familiar place.

Should I talk to my parent before seeing a doctor?

It usually helps to raise your concerns gently first, choosing a calm moment and focusing on specific practical worries rather than the word dementia. Offering to attend the GP appointment together often makes it easier for someone to agree to go. If they refuse, you can still speak to their GP about your concerns.

Could memory problems be something other than dementia?

Yes. Depression, stress, poor sleep, infections, thyroid problems, vitamin deficiencies and some medicines can all cause symptoms that resemble dementia, and several of these are treatable. This is why a GP assessment is the right next step rather than assuming the cause.

Where can I get free advice about dementia?

The Alzheimer's Society Dementia Support Line on 0333 150 3456 offers free, confidential advice from trained advisers. The NHS website also has clear guidance on symptoms, getting a diagnosis and living well with dementia.