According to the FTD Disorders Registry: “Picking up and using an object inappropriately, maybe one of the early signs of dementia to pick up in a loved one’s behaviour”.
Sufferers may also display signs of apathy, or an unwillingness to talk, alongside a lack of social tact, adds the University of California San Francisco.
Dramatic overeating may lead to weight gain, and sufferers may display unusual sexual behaviour, says the health body.
How to avoid dementia
Although the risk of developing dementia increases sharply with age, there is evidence that making lifestyle changes early can stave off decline.