6 early signs of dementia before 65 – and when to get checked

There are many subtle signs of dementia beyond memory loss. Experts reveal the ones to look out for, from misinterpreting emotions to confusion

ementia affects 57 million people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, and is one of the most common causes of death globally. While memory loss is one of the most widely known symptoms of the condition, there are also a lot more early warning signs of dementia that aren’t always as easily recognised. Experts think that misinterpreting emotions may now be another subtle indication of the disease, and is something that can be lost even with a small dip in cognitive function.

Meanwhile, there is growing evidence that mental health problems, including depression and anxiety, can also be connected with developing dementia later on in life. The likelihood of being diagnosed with dementia increases with age, affecting 22 per cent of 85 to 89-year-olds, and 33 per cent of those aged over 90. However, these early warning signs can present themselves long before dementia becomes evident. Here are six to look out for…

There are some early signs of dementia to look out for aside from memory loss

Memory problems

Memory problems are one of the first signs of Alzheimer’s Disease, the most common form of dementia. This may include problems recalling recent events, losing or misplacing items, and forgetting the names of people or objects. Over time, these issues can get progressively worse, and will begin to affect everyday life, which can be challenging for the person themself and the people around them.

Misinterpreting emotions

Dementia is caused by damage to the brain, including the areas that help us to recognise facial expressions and read people’s tone of voice. Now research shows that the ability to recognise facial expressions and emotions can drop significantly long before memory problems become apparent. Participants struggled to recognise negative emotions, including fear and anger, as easily, but were able to identify happy facial expressions for longer. So, struggling to read emotions or understand others may be an early warning sign of damage to the brain.

Mental health problems

Suffering from mental health problems, including depression, anxiety and personality disorders, has been linked to developing dementia later on in life. Research from France has found that people with one mood or anxiety disorder were twice as likely to develop dementia as those who didn’t. Meanwhile, those who experienced multiple mental health problems were even more likely to get dementia, strongly suggesting that there is a connection between the two.

Depression is linked to a higher chance of developing dementia

Confusion

In the early stages of dementia, confusion can be common. This can present itself as getting lost when walking or driving, even in familiar places, and difficulty in solving problems or making decisions.

Communication difficulties

Elderly woman in a T-shirt with her head resting on her hand looking into the distance — People with frontotemporal dementia might suffer from language problems

Dementia can damage the parts of the brain that control language, which can lead to an array of communication problems. According to Alzheimer’s Society, language problems can be experienced much earlier in people with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Signs may include not being able to find the right words or using substitute words for what they’re trying to say, and using words jumbled up in the wrong order.

Changes in personality or behaviour

The World Health Organization says that changes in mood and behaviour can also be an early indication of dementia. These may include “feeling anxious, sad or angry about memory loss, personality changes and inappropriate behaviour.” People may withdraw from work or social activities, or lose interest in other people’s emotions and feelings.

When to be worried if you’re under the age of 65

hand holding memory loss and alzheimers sign — Our maximum cognitive capacity is usually reached between 60 and 65 years old, and from then on a decline in memory can be expected

Dementia is more common in people over the age of 65, but it can still develop at a younger age. We can all be forgetful from time to time, but if you persistently notice any of these symptoms in yourself or someone else, arrange an appointment with your doctor. Dementia affects each person differently, so if you have any of these symptoms, it is not necessarily an indication that you have it.

5 signs of dementia that are not memory loss

Dementia, an umbrella term used to describe a range of neurological conditions affecting the brain that worsen over time, is one of the most impactful diseases in the world. This common and disabling disease that affects the brain occurs when brain cells are damaged or die, leading to progressive declines in cognitive functions, mood, behavior, and personality.

With over 55 million people with dementia worldwide currently, nearly 10 million new cases develop each year. The number of people with dementia is growing worldwide and is expected to triple by 2050. Despite the prevalence of the disabling disease, when most people think of dementia, the first thing that comes to mind is memory loss, like forgetting names, appointments, or where things are. While memory decline is very common, dementia involves much more than that. Early on, there are other changes, subtle signals, that often go unnoticed. These can be changes in behaviour, language, perception, coordination, or mood.

Dr. Bing, MD, MPH, a renowned neurologist with over 170K followers on Instagram, says the same.

Researchers warn that spotting these non-memory signs early can lead to faster diagnosis, better care, and more time to plan. Many dementia types – such as Alzheimer’s, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia, and vascular dementia – show these symptoms. But because these signs are subtler, they are sometimes ignored or chalked up to stress, age, or mood. That delay in recognizing these non-memory signals means missed opportunities for early treatment, support, and slowing of progression.

But if you know what to watch for, you can help yourself or someone you care about get help sooner. Let’s look at 5 non-memory signs of dementia: what they are, how to spot them, which dementia types tend to show them, and when to talk to a doctor. Recognizing these signs is not about fear – it’s about awareness, so that early support, treatment, or lifestyle changes can make a real difference.

Poor judgment or decision-making

What it looks like: Someone who used to manage their finances well may start making odd or risky choices: paying bills late, giving money to strangers, and ignoring major bills. Or they may neglect personal safety or hygiene – wearing heavy clothes in hot weather, or leaving the stove on. These changes are more than simple forgetfulness; they show a decline in reasoning and executive thinking.

Changes in vision, spatial awareness, or perception

What it looks like: A person may have trouble judging distances (e.g., misjudge steps, bump into furniture), read similarly to before, but struggle with puzzles or following moving objects. They might fail to recognize familiar places or get confused while driving in familiar neighborhoods. Colors or contrast might become difficult. In some cases, visual experiences like hallucinations occur.

What causes it: Some dementias affect brain areas that process visual information – posterior cortical atrophy (a variant of Alzheimer’s), Lewy body dementia, etc. The visual cortex or connections deteriorate, so seeing is less about eyes and more about processing what is seen.

How to spot it:

Notice difficulties reading, especially small text or low contrast.

Watch for balking at stairs or “tripping” over things that were easy before.

Confusion driving or navigating in once-familiar places.

Complaints of seeing things that others don’t (in some dementias).

Personality changes, mood swings, and emotional instability

What it looks like: Sudden or gradual shifts in personality: becoming withdrawn or passive when previously outgoing; showing uncharacteristic irritability; increased anxiety, apathy, distrust; being more emotionally volatile. Sometimes people become suspicious or overly fearful.

What causes it: Damage to the frontal or temporal lobes, or certain protein buildups, can affect the regulation of mood and behavior. Also, changes in neurotransmitters (chemicals in brain communication) contribute. Frontotemporal dementia especially shows early personality changes.

How to spot it:

People close to you (family, friends) say the person “isn’t the same” in how they react.

Sudden loss of interest in hobbies or social activities.

Unusual mood fluctuations without an obvious trigger.

Increased emotional reactions – crying, anger, fear – in situations that didn’t used to show that.

Trouble with language and communication (beyond just forgetting words)

What it looks like: Not just forgetting a name now and then, but trouble following conversations, stopping mid-sentence, substituting wrong words (calling a “watch” a “hand clock” or using a totally unrelated word), difficulty finding the right word, and trouble understanding what others say. Written language may suffer.

What causes it: Damage in language-center regions in the brain, e.g., Wernicke’s or Broca’s areas, temporal lobes. Different dementias have different patterns: primary progressive aphasia (a dementia type) has language damage early.

How to spot it:

Notice when someone repeats themselves or fails to follow simple dialogues.

Check if they write messages/emails/texts that are confusing.

See if they mislabel objects or use odd words.

Watch out for difficulty reading or understanding when someone describes things.

Decreased or poor attention, slowed thinking, and difficulty with problem-solving

What it looks like: A person may seem more easily distracted, unable to follow multi-step instructions (e.g., cooking a recipe), or have trouble finding their way through tasks they used to handle fine, like balancing the checkbook, planning a trip, or organizing a schedule. Tasks take much longer, or they may give up.

What causes it: Many dementias (vascular, Alzheimer’s, etc.) affect the brain’s “executive function” network. Blood flow reduction, small vessel disease, or protein pathology can slow processing. The ability to pay attention or switch between tasks declines.

How to spot it:

Watch whether someone loses track when doing tasks involving steps.

Notice if they can’t multitask anymore (e.g., cooking while talking).

Observe slowed responses in conversation, more pausing, or hesitation.

Missed deadlines and misplaced things often because attention was diverted.

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