The 9 symptoms of early-onset dementia you might spot while doing last minute Christmas shopping

LAST minute Christmas shopping is a nightmare for anyone.

But if you find yourself particularly affected by the mad rush this year, it could suggest you need to see a doctor.

Many early-onset dementia symptoms can surface at stressful times, and racing through crowded streets before the big day is certainly taxing.

Around 900,000 Brits are living with dementia, and it's the leading cause of death in the UK.

It's generally considered an older person's condition, but symptoms can surface between the ages of 45 and 65, and even as young as 30.

Here, we take a look at nine dementia signs that you might notice in the shops over the festive period.

1. Forgetfulness

Dementia is often associated with full-blown memory loss.

But an early sign of the condition can be slight forgetfulness, which is easy to brush aside.

This could be misplacing essential items like your keys, but it may also be forgetting what you had for breakfast, according to the Alzheimer's Society.

While Christmas shopping, you might not be able to remember who you're supposed to be buying presents for, or which gifts you've already wrapped at home.

2. Difficulties counting

In today's world, many people don't carry any cash at all, relying solely on their contactless debit and credit cards.

But if you do pay for anything with bank notes or coins over Christmas and you find yourself more than a little confused, it might be wise to book a GP appointment in the New Year.

Having trouble counting change, or being able to recognise different coins and notes, is common in dementia sufferers.

It can start out subtle but worsen over time and have a significant impact on people's lives.

The NHS says: "Finding it hard to carry out familiar daily tasks, such as getting confused over the correct change when shopping, may appear some time before a diagnosis of dementia."

3. Confusion

Another tell-tale sign is confusion over times and places.

This could be where to meet a friend for a Christmas coffee, or what time you leave the house to see your relatives.

Struggling to remember familiar routes, like the directions to your parent's house, is also cause for concern, experts say.

4. Irritability

Most people will feel slightly irritated and impatient when navigating busy high streets in the run-up to Christmas.

But severe emotions, or ones that are particularly out of character, can also indicate early-onset dementia.

Sufferers may not be able to spot this themselves, but family members usually can.

The Alzheimer's Society says: "A person with dementia may feel agitated or irritable, fidget, tap their fingers or make other repetitive movements.

"They may also walk up and down, move objects around or fixate on tasks. These behaviours are known as ‘restlessness’."

5. Planning and organisation problems

This is often more common in the later stages of dementia, but people may develop "increasing difficulties with concentrating, planning and organising", the charity says.

From the presents to the shopping list for Christmas dinner, December is obviously a time that involves plenty of prep.

So be aware of issues that revolve around this, such as not being able to concentrate for very long.