The symptoms of dementia vary across types and stages of the diagnosis.
The most commonly affected areas include memory, visual-spatial perception and orientation, language, attention and problem solving.
Most types of dementia are slow and progressive.
By the time signs of the disorder are apparent, deterioration in the brain has been happening for a long time.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms that may be present are termed Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).
These can include problems with:
Balance
Tremor
Speech and language
Eating/swallowing
Memory (believing that a memory has already happened when it has not, thinking an old memory is a new one, combining two memories, or confusing the people in a memory)
Wandering or restlessness
Visual perception
 Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia almost always occur in all types of dementia and may manifest as:
Agitation
Depression
Anxiety
Abnormal motor behavior
Elated mood
Irritability
Apathy
Disinhibition and impulsivity
Delusions (often believing people are stealing from them) or hallucinations
Changes in sleep or appetite.

When people with dementia are put in circumstances beyond their abilities, they may experience a sudden change to crying or anger (a "catastrophic reaction").

Psychosis (often delusions of persecution) and agitation/aggression also often accompany dementia.
The symptoms of dementia vary across types and stages of the diagnosis. The most commonly affected areas include memory, visual-spatial perception and orientation, language, attention and problem solving. Most types of dementia are slow and progressive. By the time signs of the disorder are apparent, deterioration in the brain has been happening for a long time.
Neuropsychiatric symptoms that may be present are termed Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). These can include problems with:
Balance
Tremor
Speech and language
Eating/swallowing
Memory (believing that a memory has already happened when it has not, thinking an old memory is a new one, combining two memories, or confusing the people in a memory)
Wandering or restlessness
Visual perception
 Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia almost always occur in all types of dementia and may manifest as:
Agitation
Depression
Anxiety
Abnormal motor behavior
Elated mood
Irritability
Apathy
Disinhibition and impulsivity
Delusions (often believing people are stealing from them) or hallucinations
Changes in sleep or appetite.
When people with dementia are put in circumstances beyond their abilities, they may experience a sudden change to crying or anger (a "catastrophic reaction").
Psychosis (often delusions of persecution) and agitation/aggression also often accompany dementia.
Dementia