Families are being urged to stay alert during festive shopping trips this year, as specialists highlight two early dementia warning signs that often become more noticeable in crowded, fast-paced environments. While these changes do not confirm a diagnosis, recognising early signs of dementia can help families seek a timely dementia memory assessment or clinical advice.
Christmas shopping — with its noise, queues, bright lights and sensory overload — can magnify subtle behavioural changes that may otherwise go unnoticed at home.
According to dementia charities, one of the early symptoms of dementia involves misinterpreting or misidentifying objects due to visual-processing changes in the brain.
This can include:
A common example is mistaking a TV remote for a mobile phone. These difficulties often relate to visuospatial problems — changes that affect how the brain interprets depth, shapes and spatial orientation.
These issues often become more noticeable in busy, visually overwhelming environments like supermarkets.
The NHS lists confusion with money as a potential early dementia symptom. During Christmas shopping, this may appear as:
Crowded shops, long queues and noise can intensify these challenges, making them clearer to family members.
Festive environments often include:
For individuals with early cognitive decline, this stimulation can lead to:
Combined with age-related vision changes, this makes Christmas a time when families may spot concerning behaviour for the first time.
Experts recommend staying calm and supportive if someone shows confusion or misidentifies objects. Helpful strategies include:
Maintaining familiar surroundings at home and keeping items in consistent places can also make daily life easier for those experiencing memory problems.
Additional indicators of early dementia include:
With nearly one million people in the UK affected, early identification through a cognitive assessment or dementia check is crucial.
If you’re concerned about memory issues, confusion, or unusual behaviour in a loved one, early support is essential. At Private Medical Clinic, we provide:
Our clinicians offer a calm, confidential space where concerns can be discussed openly. Early diagnosis helps individuals access appropriate treatment, plan ahead and improve long-term wellbeing.
Dr. Rano Bhadoria (MBBS, FRCPSYCH) is a highly experienced Consultant Psychiatrist with expertise in holistic mental health care, therapies, and women's health. A Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, she combines evidence-based treatments with lifestyle medicine to support long-term wellbeing.
