Common "dementia mimickers" could be linked to other illnesses - with patients being urged to check potential red flag symptoms.
Patients fear some of their earliest symptoms could be a sign of dementia but actually many of them are treatable, according to doctors.
If a loved one starts to show signs of confusion or behavioural changes, it can be linked to depression, side-effects from medications, emotional distress or nutritional deficiencies.
Ardeshir Hashmi, a geriatrician and section chief of Cleveland Clinic’s Centre for Geriatric Medicine, revealed patients often have treatable conditions which can easily be missed by doctors.
He told the Medical Guardian: “Sometimes there’s just a very superficial workup. Before you make that conclusion, you should rule out all the other things that can be confused with dementia — things that are easily reversible.”
Although there is no cure for dementia, there are several approved medications that help manage its symptoms - with studies currently measuring their effectiveness.
Below are six "dementia mimickers" patients should be aware of, according to medics.
Medication side effects
One of the most crucial questions to ask patients if they're suffering from memory problems is whether they have recently started a new medication.
Adults are more likely than younger people to develop cognitive impairment as a result of new medication.
In addition, many types of different prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs can affect a patients' cognition - with the most common including sleep, pain, anxiety, and allergies.
According to a recent report from the National Poll in April, 82 percent of adults, ages 50 to 80, take at least one medication.
There are plenty of possible side effects that can arise from taking prescriptions - with many of them not linked to dementia.
Chest infections
An untreated chest infection can cause a sudden change in a patient's attention, memory and alertness, which can mimic dementia, according to doctors.
This is because when an infection occurs, the white blood cells in the body rush to the infected site, which causes a chemical change in the brain that makes some older adults feel drowsy, confused and unfocused.
Chest infections are harder to diagnose in people aged 65 or over because they are unlikely to have classic symptoms such as a cough or fever.
Although delirium often comes on suddenly, dementia progresses slowly and makes subtle memory changes that worse over many years.
Dr Hashmi revealed: “Dementia is almost never sudden onset unless caused by a stroke. If you see a sudden change [in mental status], always think about delirium as a first cause. It is eminently treatable if you get to the trigger or underlying source of it, which is usually an infection."
Patients who have difficulty concentrating, memory laps and struggle to concentrate will often see their symptoms go after a few months.
Trouble sleeping
Having a good night's sleep is essential for the brain as you get older, as it helps our brains learn new information, store memories and filter out toxic substances.
In addition, if patients experience insomnia this could see them develop symptoms such as confusion, mental fatigue and irritability.
It is essential that people who are experiencing symptoms of insomnia cut down on alcohol, caffeine, and keep a consistent sleep schedule.
Meanwhile some adults could suffer with sleep apnoea with the symptoms including loud snoring, waking up gasping or choking and a morning headache or uncontrolled high blood pressure.
Dehydration
In the cases of some older patients, dehydration can make loved ones sleepy or confused if they are not consuming enough water.
The body's ability to retain water in blood vessels decreases as people get older and so it is easier to get dehydrated quicker without noticing.
If a person's urine is dark yellow or brown, this can indicate a lack of fluids along with a white coating on the tongue.
In order to prevent being dehydrated, adults should drink at least six 8-ounce glasses of water a day.
Urinary tract infection
A urinary tract infection can be diagnosed with a simple urine test and treated with antibiotics - but they can cause dementia-like symptoms.
They affect women 65 and over, with men also experiencing UTIs as they age, with the infection having the ability to change a person's mental status without any obvious symptoms.
James M Ellison, MD, a geriatric psychiatrist, said: " An older adult with a UTI might experience a mental status change without a fever or burning with urination.”
Red flags for dementia that you MUST check
Some of the red flags for dementia include difficulty performing familiar tasks such as getting dressed and preparing a meal, according to the Alzheimer's Society.
People with dementia will have trouble completing tasks familiar to their lives such as playing a game or forgetting to serve part of a meal.
In addition, forgetting or stumbling words during a conversation is also sign of dementia - some people may struggle to find the right words to express how they feel.
Misplacing items and forgetting where they were last put is also attributed to dementia - this can include placing items in the freezer, or a watch in a sugar bowl.
