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It was the third occasion when Helen’s daughter actually became suspicious about her mother`s mental well-being, following an incident during the most recent family visit.

Her 79-year-old mother had been a chatterbox her entire life, being not only intelligent but also highly amusing, keeping up conversation with absolutely no problem.

Lately, however, there had been times when she would stop for no obvious reason, sometimes in the middle of a sentence, staring blankly for a few seconds, then, like someone who had just woken from a dream or returned from some other place, need guidance as to exactly where they were in their talk.

Helen’s daughter reckoned it was odd, and definitely a change from her mother`s usual behaviour so she arranged a visit to the GP.

Following the proper referrals to specialists and a few tests, the diagnosis confirmed the suspicion: stage 2 Alzheimer`s mixed with a mild vascular dementia.

(Image: Getty)

Detecting the very first signs of something going wrong is not so easy as many people still associate dementia, and chronic forgetfulness, with older age and as a natural part of it. They are not.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most commonly recognised cause of dementia. However, dementia is not one condition but a term which encompasses a range of conditions characterised by impairment of brain functions, including language, memory, perception, personality and cognitive skills.

It can lead to a loss of understanding, rationality, social skills and normal emotional reactions.

More than 100 types of dementia are now recognised, but Alzheimer’s disease still remains the most common, accounting for around 60per cent in England.

Alzheimer’s disease is caused by changes in the structure of the brain and a shortage of essential chemicals that help with the transmission of messages.

The ongoing death of brain cells leads to insuperable gaps in the brain structure between the neurons (brain cells) and different brain regions.

But how do we know if a behaviour is something that needs further investigation. Furthermore, how will we cope with the diagnosis if it confirms our fears?

How dementia shows itself is very personal. Although it has its own `golden rules`, each case depends on the life history and unique personality of the individual.

Therefore, the signs that could indicate mental deterioration may be different for each human being.

If someone has a long history of losing their keys, for instance, it is hardly unusual if they keep doing it as their get older.

For one, however, who never has done it before, but keeps struggling to find the keys lately, it could be an early sign of dementia.

On the other hand, there are other psychological factors and medical and mental conditions that could be similar to dementia in terms of signs and symptoms, such as stress, vitamin deficiencies, or depression, so it is crucial to get the right diagnosis when the individual`s mental well-being appears to be in jeopardy.

In my personal experience, it always helps if our monitoring, listening and observations are supported by some sort of written evidence.

If we are not yet sure, but have suspicions in relation to the mental strength of a loved one, we might want to keep a diary or a log-book where we can make short notes about what we see or hear.

This could be anything that is out of the ordinary for that particular person – anything that has not been part of his or her daily routine before.

Naturally, there are a few typical signs and possible changes that are worth watching out for more closely.

These include the level of forgetfulness; acute or permanent confusion about certain things; disorientation in time and place; significant changes in behaviour and personality; decreased judgment; changes in speech or writing; and withdrawal from social interactions and activities.

But all these suggested signs ultimately lead us back to the essential, magical question we always have to ask before we can arrive at any further conclusions: “Is this abnormal for this individual, or is it part of who they have always been?”

When we notice that something is new and odd, that has never occurred in a person`s life before, as far as we have observed, that is the point when further help may be needed.

(Image: Getty)

GPs will listen to our concerns carefully and make the necessary referrals to specialists.

They will be able to make a diagnosis based on minimally invasive assessments, such as simple conversation or the commonly used ‘Mini Mental State Examination’ (MMSE), or slightly more invasive – but certainly not unbearable - procedures such as blood tests or brain scans, including CT or MRI.

It might sound a bit frightening at first when we hear the word ‘dementia’, but in terms of preparation and provision for a good quality of life, it is essential to face it as soon as possible.

What happens next depends on your local referral system and the community services available nearby. It varies between regions unfortunately; there are very well established networks in certain counties, but also `not so easy to access` services elsewhere within the UK.

One thing is certain, though - there is plenty that can be done after a diagnosis to support someone to live well with the condition.

It is definitely not an imminent death sentence and fortunately more and more celebrities who are affected by dementia are ‘coming out’ about it.

I am personally amazed and impressed by their sense of responsibility as they recognize the influence they have to help get rid of the stigma associated with dementia.

People with dementia can live well with guidance and support.

(Image: Martha Halford PR)

I have been caring for these lovely souls for a decade and, I must say, it has been a privilege to be around them.

Helping someone navigate a world that to them is distorted is one of the best vocations imaginable – or at least that is how I look at it as I sit here with the lovely person I am helping at the moment, seeing her smiling and being absolutely content, balanced and ultimately happy in my care.

Agnes B. Juhasz is the author of The Dementia Whisperer: Scenes from the frontline of caring published by Hammersmith Health Books on 15 November.