The quick ‘cup of tea’ test that could identify if a loved one has early signs of dementia
IT'S well known that forgetfulness and confusion are some of the early warning signs and symptoms of dementia.
But there are smaller, quieter clues that occur in our day-to-day lives making them fairly easy to identify – if you know what to look out for.
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In the UK a study published in The Lancet earlier this year found that on current trends up to 1.7 million people could be living with dementia in England and Wales by 2040.
This is over 40 per cent more than previously forecast, so catching the disease early more important than ever.
If you are worried about a family member, dementia specialist, Dr Jane Pritchard, Admiral Nurse for The Good Care Group, has recommended trying a quick "cup of tea" test.
While not foolproof, it's a useful indicator of how well someone's mind is working - and whether their brain may be starting to decline.
"If you're concerned and perhaps seeing some of these actions in the home environment, consider asking for a cup of tea," the nurse told Surrey Live.
She added: "Asking someone to make you a cup of tea will allow you to observe the many steps it takes to make the perfect brew."
"Have they boiled the kettle? In what order are they following the necessary steps? Have they remembered where the spoon drawer is? Is the tea bag still in there?
"Missed or misplaced steps could mean that an assessment might be helpful."
If they really struggle, it might suggest something’s not quite right with memory or thinking skills.
It’s not a diagnosis, but it could be an early red flag.
Another popular test is the clock-drawing test, which the NHS has used for decades.
You ask someone to draw a clock face on a blank bit of paper.
They add the numbers one to 12, then draw the hands to show a time - like ten past eleven.
Sounds simple, but it actually takes a lot of brain power.
You need memory, planning skills and visual awareness - things that often fade when dementia sets in.
If the clock looks wonky or the numbers are in the wrong place, it could mean something’s wrong.
Get it right, though, and it almost rules dementia out, according to NHS guidance.
If someone finds it tricky, a chat with their GP is the next step.
Dementia - the most common form of which is Alzheimer's - comes on slowly over time.
As the disease progresses, symptoms can become more severe.
But at the beginning, the symptoms can be subtle or mistaken for normal memory issues related to ageing.
The US National Institute on Aging gives some examples of what is considered normal forgetfulness in old age, and dementia disease.
You can refer to these above.
For example, it is normal for an ageing person to forget which word to use from time-to-time, but difficulting having conversation would be more indicative of dementia.
Katie Puckering, Head of Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Information Services team, previously told The Sun: “We quite commonly as humans put our car keys somewhere out of the ordinary and it takes longer for us to find them.
“As you get older, it takes longer for you to recall, or you really have to think; What was I doing? Where was I? What distracted me? Was it that I had to let the dog out? And then you find the keys by the back door.
“That process of retrieving the information is just a bit slower in people as they age.
“In dementia, someone may not be able to recall that information and what they did when they came into the house.
“What may also happen is they might put it somewhere it really doesn't belong. For example, rather than putting the milk back in the fridge, they put the kettle in the fridge.”
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