03. Is It Just Ageing? Understanding the Early Signs of Dementia

 

You’ve noticed something… Maybe it’s a repeated question over lunch, or a wrong turn on a familiar drive. Maybe you can’t quite put your finger on it – you just know something feels different. In this episode, Lyndal unpacks one of the most common questions families ask: is this just normal ageing, or is something else going on? If you’ve been quietly watching a parent, partner or friend and wondering if it could be the early signs of dementia, this one is for you.

In this episode:

  • The key difference between normal forgetfulness and something worth paying attention to
  • Why memory loss isn’t always the first sign families notice, and the early change that surprises people most
  • The everyday moments that can signal something more is going on, and why they’re so easy to dismiss
  • Why the person living with the changes is often the last one to notice them, and the science behind why that happens
  • The unexpected visitor who may actually be the first to spot something is wrong
  • Why not everything that looks like dementia actually is – and the conditions that are sometimes mistaken for it
  • The one reason going to the GP early is always worth it, even if you’re not sure there’s anything wrong
  • How to have the conversation your family has been avoiding

Links & Resources

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About the Dementia Unravelled podcaster

Lyndal Harris is a Dementia Doula based in Brisbane, Australia. She is also a Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) Facilitator and Dementia Awareness Educator and is a member of Dementia Doulas International.
If you’re curious about what dementia support might look like, or if you would like me to present at your community group or event on the subject of dementia, I’d love to talk. Click on the button below to book a free 20-minute enquiry call or you can submit an enquiry via email and I’ll respond as soon as I can.