Memory problems are the first symptom many people think of when it comes to dementia, but a group of researchers has warned that more subtle signs are being missed. According to experts, current approaches to diagnosis and care reply too much on memory assessments. 

They argue that the condition can also impair taste, touch, balance, hearing and vision. Professor Andrea Tales, professor of dementia research at Swansea University, Dr Emma Richards of Public Health Wales, and Professor Jan Kremláček, head of medical biophysics LFHK at Charles University, make their case in a new book co-produced by people livign with dementia.

Dr Richards said: “Many patients report experiencing these sensory changes years before receiving a diagnosis, but these symptoms may be overlooked during standard cognitive assessments.

“Understanding and addressing these issues, and providing support earlier could be transformative, enabling health care providers to offer the vital emotional and social support patients need at a potentially confusing and distressing time.

“In addition to this, understanding changes in a person’s senses can help support a clinician in determining a dementia diagnosis.”

The lesser-known characteristics of dementia identified by the experts were:

• altered visual and hearing perception
• changes in hearing ability and sound processing, especially in noisy environments
• diminished sense of smell and taste
• tactile sensitivity issues

The book, A New Approach to Dementia, argues that sensory and perceptual testing should be incorporated into diagnostic, care and support services.

Prof Kremláček said this could help identify dementia earlier “at the preclinical stages” when new drugs and interventions may be more effective.

Prof Tales added: “This isn’t about replacing memory assessment, but rather expanding our toolkit to improve our capture of the full, more holistic, spectrum of dementia-related changes.”