Memory loss can be seen as a normal sign of aging. As our age progresses, so does our ability to retain certain things. Dementia, however, is different than just forgetting things. It not only affects your memories, but it also changes your behavior patterns and thinking capabilities as well. It can change a person to their core, even the things that may be a huge part of their personality. A charity is highlighting key dementia symptoms that are more than just "normal aging." A recent survey shows that a huge 85% of people in the UK put off getting help. Getting a diagnosis early means the person can get the best support and treatment they need as soon as possible. Dementia has no cure; hence, the best way to ensure one's quality of life does not severely decline, one must get treatment quickly. While you may not be able to eradicate the disease, you can get its symptoms under control. Why People Delay Seeking Help A survey by the Alzheimer's Society found that only a third of people tell their doctor about dementia symptoms within a month of noticing them. This includes noticing symptoms in themselves or a loved one. Only 15% sought help "immediately," meaning most people (75%) waited to get advice. Many of the 1,100 people surveyed stayed quiet because they weren't sure if the symptoms were from dementia or just normal aging. About one in three people (33%) who noticed symptoms kept their worries to themselves for over a month. Another 11% hadn't even talked about their concerns despite seeing the first signs. This delay often leads to people waiting a long time for medical advice, with almost a quarter waiting more than six months to see a doctor. Early signs of dementia, like trouble following conversations, difficulty concentrating, and memory lapses, are often mistaken for normal aging things like hearing loss or simply forgetting things. The survey also found that 16% of people actively "avoid" getting a diagnosis because they're scared of how it might affect their relationships. Plus, 44% worried about family or caregivers starting to "talk down" to them. Key Early Indicators of Dementia The survey pointed out seven possible early signs of dementia: Trouble following a conversationDifficulty concentratingMemory lossHearing lossForgetfulnessMood swingsDifficulty movingThe former CEO of the Alzheimer's Society emphasized the need to be more open about dementia, saying we "can't continue to avoid the 'd' word." Dementia vs. Normal Aging: What's the Difference? The charity helps explain the difference between signs of Alzheimer's and dementia versus typical age-related changes. Signs of Alzheimer's and dementia often include: Poor judgment and making bad decisionsInability to manage moneyLosing track of the date or seasonStruggling to have a conversationMisplacing things and being unable to find them againMaking a bad decision once in a whileMissing a monthly payment occasionallyForgetting which day it is but remembering laterSometimes forgetting a wordLosing things from time to time