Early signs of dementia — and when to see a doctor in Singapore

What does early dementia actually look like?

Dementia rarely begins with the dramatic memory loss you see in films. It usually begins with small, easy-to-explain-away changes that build up over months or years.

The most common early signs include:

• Repeating the same question in a short conversation, without remembering having asked it.
• Trouble finding common words — especially names of familiar objects (the TV remote, the kettle).
• Getting lost in familiar places — a wrong turn on a route they've walked for decades.
• Difficulty following a multi-step task they used to do easily — a favourite recipe, balancing the chequebook, paying bills online.
• Withdrawing from hobbies and social events they used to enjoy, often because they're starting to feel they can't keep up.
• Mood and personality changes — irritability, suspicion, or unusual passivity in someone who was previously sharp and warm.

How is this different from normal ageing?

Some forgetfulness is normal at every age. The key difference: normal forgetfulness is occasional and self-correcting (you remember where you put the keys ten minutes later). Dementia-pattern forgetfulness is consistent, getting worse over time, and starting to affect daily life.

If you find yourself making excuses for your parent more than once a week — "Pa's just tired today" — that pattern itself is information worth bringing to a doctor.

Where do I go for an assessment in Singapore?

The right first step depends on your loved one's existing care:

1. GP or polyclinic doctor. Start here for an initial screening. They can do a quick cognitive test (often the MMSE or MoCA) and refer onward if needed.
2. Geriatrician or memory clinic. All major Singapore hospitals — SGH, TTSH, NUH, CGH, KTPH — have geriatric assessment or memory clinics. Referral is usually through your GP or polyclinic.
3. Dementia Singapore. The national charity offers caregiver guidance, support groups, and assessment referrals at no cost. Their helpline (6377 0700) is a good first call for families who don't know where to start.

What happens at an assessment?

A proper dementia assessment usually includes:

• A medical history (with you, the family, present — not just the patient)
• A cognitive test (MMSE, MoCA, or similar)
• A physical examination, including blood tests to rule out treatable causes (thyroid issues, B12 deficiency, depression)
• Sometimes a brain scan (MRI or CT) to rule out structural causes

The goal is not just to confirm dementia but to identify which type — Alzheimer's, vascular dementia, Lewy body, frontotemporal — because different types respond to different care approaches.

What if I'm wrong and it's nothing?

You won't waste anyone's time. A clean assessment gives you peace of mind. A flagged assessment gives you time to plan — and the earlier you plan, the more options you and your loved one have, from medication that can slow progression to enrolling in cognitive-stimulation programmes that work best when started early.

If you are seeing these signs in someone you love, please don't wait for them to get worse before acting. Early conversations are kinder conversations.