A lesser-known symptom of dementia could appear on someone’s birthday, according to an expert. This could actually be one of the “first signs” of Alzheimer’s disease.

Many of us are aware of some of the most common red flags of dementia.Memory loss and behavioural changes are among the clues that someone could be experiencing cognitive decline.

However, there are some less well-known indications that should prompt concern.

With this in mind, care expert Michael Berkley-Blezard, from the Elmfield care group home Old Sarum Manor, shared some of the lesser-known signs to keep an eye out for. These include one sign that could be noticeable in a birthday or Christmas card.

He explained: “Starting to have an issue with reading and writing, where the person hasn’t previously had a problem, is often an indicator of dementia. “This could be seen through a change in handwriting in birthday cards for example.”

His warning is backed by a study published in Intelligent Data Analysis in 2020.

Study authors explained: “Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's impair the cognitive and motor abilities of the patient, which brings memory loss and confusion. As handwriting involves the functioning of the brain and motor control, it is affected.”

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They continued: “Alteration in handwriting is one of the first signs of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The handwriting gets shaky, due to loss of muscle control, confusion, and forgetfulness.

"The symptoms get progressively worse. The handwriting becomes illegible and phonological spelling mistakes become inevitable.”

On the Alzheimer’s Society Support Forum people have also noted how they have noticed changes in handwriting linked to dementia. One person commented: “I first noticed my mum's handwriting had deteriorated about seven years ago, so it was probably that way for longer.

“The interesting thing is she can still read perfectly well.” Another wrote: “My husband's signature has changed and recently a document he had to sign was rejected. One more problem to add to the list.”

Michael warned that some other signs of dementia include:

• Not enjoying certain foods anymore;
• Shuffling when walking;
• Using the wrong word in a sentence;
• Being late;
• Forgetting names and faces;
• Getting lost in familiar places;
• Misplacing items.

Michael added: “If you start to notice any of these signs in your loved ones, try and have a conversation with them about what you have noticed and suggest booking a doctor's appointment to discuss the symptoms. This will help guide you and your loved one with how to move forward.”