Dementia Awareness Posted or Updated on 21 Jan 2026

Worried someone close to you is losing their memory?

Many people suffer from memory loss as they get older. But if it starts to happen on a regular basis, it could be the early signs of dementia.

What should I look for?

Dementia is not a single illness but a group of symptoms caused by damage to the brain. The symptoms include:

• memory loss, such as remembering past events much more easily than recent ones
• problems thinking or reasoning, or finding it hard to follow conversations or TV programmes
• feeling anxious, depressed or angry about memory loss, or feeling confused, even when in a familiar environment

What should I do?

If you’re worried about someone who is showing the signs above, encourage them to visit their GP to get a proper diagnosis. Use the link at the top of the page to find your GP.

Dementia UK provides tips on how to raise the topic of dementia with a loved one.