10 early signs of dementia, and when to get a memory check
The 10 early signs of dementia families most often miss, how they differ from normal ageing, and what to do next. Written for India, the UK, the US and beyond.
Quick answer
The most common early signs of dementia are memory loss that disrupts daily life, trouble planning or handling money, losing track of dates, repeating questions, word-finding problems, misplacing things, poor judgement, withdrawal, and mood changes. One sign alone is not dementia. If several appear and keep getting worse, book a memory check with a doctor.
What are the early signs of dementia?
Memory loss that affects daily life, difficulty planning or with money, confusion about time or place, trouble finding words, misplacing things, poor judgement, withdrawing from activities, and changes in mood. Signs that build up over months matter more than a single slip.
The 10 early signs
- Forgetting recent conversations or events, and asking the same question again.
- Trouble planning, following a recipe, or keeping track of bills and money.
- Taking longer to do familiar tasks, such as making tea or using the TV remote.
- Losing track of the date, the season, or where they are.
- New trouble judging distance, reading or recognising faces.
- Stopping in the middle of a sentence or using the wrong word.
- Putting things in odd places and not being able to retrace steps.
- Poor decisions with money, safety or personal care.
- Withdrawing from work, prayer, family events or hobbies.
- Changes in mood: anxiety, suspicion, low mood or irritability.
Normal ageing or dementia?
| Usually normal ageing | Worth a check |
|---|---|
| Forgetting a name, remembering it later | Forgetting a recent event entirely |
| Missing a bill payment once | Repeated trouble managing money |
| Needing help with a new phone setting | Struggling with a routine task done for years |
| Losing the car keys now and then | Finding keys in the fridge and not knowing why |
What age can dementia start?
Most people with dementia are over 65, but young-onset dementia starts before 65 and can begin in the 40s or 50s. Changes in memory and thinking can start years before a diagnosis, which is why the WHO and the Lancet Commission stress earlier attention to brain health for every adult.
Why early matters
Worldwide, about 57 million people live with dementia. Alzheimer's Disease International estimates that 75% of people with dementia are never diagnosed, and on average it takes about 3.5 years from the first signs to a diagnosis. An earlier check gives time to treat reversible causes such as low vitamin B12, thyroid problems, depression or medicine side effects, and to plan.
What to do next
- Write down the changes you have noticed, with rough dates.
- Book a visit with a family doctor, neurologist or memory clinic.
- Ask for a cognitive assessment and basic blood tests.
- Bring a family member who knows the person well.
Frequently asked questions
Memory loss that disrupts daily life, trouble planning or with money, confusion about time or place, word-finding problems, and changes in mood or behaviour.
Changes can often be picked up before daily life is badly affected, through a cognitive assessment reviewed by a doctor. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.
No. Stress, poor sleep, depression, thyroid problems, low vitamin B12 and some medicines also affect memory, and many of these are treatable.
Start with a family doctor, who can refer to a neurologist, psychiatrist, geriatrician or memory clinic.
Track your memory with ZD Screening
Short check-ins in English, Hindi or Hinglish that you can share with your doctor. Join early access.
Get early accessSources
- 1.Dementia fact sheet. World Health Organization, 2023.
- 2.World Alzheimer Report 2021: Journey through the diagnosis of dementia. Alzheimer's Disease International, 2021.
- 3.Time to diagnosis in dementia: a systematic review. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry (Kusoro et al.), 2025.
- 4.Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission. The Lancet, 2024.
- 5.Alzheimer's Disease Fact Sheet. National Institute on Aging, 2023.
This article is for information and does not replace advice from a doctor. If you notice changes in memory or thinking, see a doctor.
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