10 March 2024 , 16:00
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Dementia affects around 900,000 people in the UK - and experts say there is one common early symptom sign that can be spotted while walking.
The life-changing condition is becoming a growing challenge, so continuous research is vital for early diagnosis and support. Now scientists have found an "early red flag" that could highlight the disease.
Usually, the easiest signs to spot are memory loss and a decline in speech, but before these occur, some people might notice changes in their movement and mobility. They could also experience issues with gait, increased unsteadiness or sometimes limb stiffness according to Alzheimer's Research UK.
There could also be signs of difficulty with coordination skills, as scientists have linked these early signs with dementia. The disease is a slow burner, but noticing little signs like this could help patients with the support they may need before it progresses.
Every person with dementia experiences it in their own way and it can affect people differently - especially in the early stages, Alzheimer's Research UK reports. As well as a change in movement and mobility, people could also experience a "misunderstanding of what is being seen".
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The experts explained that people may have "problems judging distances (such as on stairs) or perceiving the edges of objects, and misinterpreting patterns or reflections." This can also develop into people "walking repeatedly around at home or leaving the house during the day or night."
Other symptoms include difficulty in concentration, planning or organising. These could be "struggling to make decisions" as well as solving problems or issues following a series of steps or instructions such as cooking a meal.
When dementia starts to develop, people may start to experience additional conditions, and these can include sleep problems as there is a disruption to their body clock.
The charity added: "A person with dementia may sleep more in the day and have difficulty sleeping at night," and also there could be an increase in aggressive behaviour. "As a person's dementia progresses, they may sometimes behave in ways that are physically or verbally aggressive."
If you have any concerns, it's advised to speak to your GP. You can also find more information around dementia here.