early signs
Is this normal ageing or something to worry about?
3 min read
Ordinary ageing slows recall; dementia interferes with everyday function. Forgetting a name and recalling it later is ordinary. Repeating a question within one conversation, getting lost on a familiar route, or struggling with money that used to be routine is worth assessing.
What to try
- 1Ask the functional question: is this changing what they can actually do day to day?
- 2Keep a two-week diary with dates and concrete examples before the appointment.
- 3Ask the GP for an assessment rather than for an opinion over the phone. They can check things an app cannot.
- 4Anchor the appointment to something practical — a general health check — and offer to go with them.
What to avoid
- Testing them with questions to see how bad it is. It distresses them and tells you little.
- Waiting for certainty. An assessment that finds nothing is a good outcome, not a wasted appointment.
Worth assessing
- Repeating the same question within a short conversation.
- Difficulty following a familiar recipe or route.
- Putting objects in unusual places, such as keys in the fridge.
- Withdrawing from hobbies or conversation to avoid being caught out.
- Others noticing before the person does.
How this guide was made
Written by
Written independently for Riparo. It is not copied or adapted from any organisation’s material.
Evidence checked
Some key points have been checked against published national dementia guidance; others have not been.
Reviewed by
Not clinically reviewed. No clinician has checked this guide.