Losing confidence in yourself could be a sign of Britain's most feared disease

A heartbreaking new 'symptom' - which sees patients slowly lose their self-esteem over time - has been linked by medical leaders to the UK's most widely-dreaded health condition.

According to new research, the debilitating illness in question, incurable in nature, is now feared to a greater extent than cancer, given that it doesn't just affect a person's physical wellbeing, but their mental state and relationship with others.

“[It] has now eclipsed cancer as our greatest health fear for the future," Martin Jones, chief executive of at-home healthcare provider Home Instead explained earlier this year. "Unlike cancer, where decades of research have shifted perceptions and care outcomes, [this condition] feels like a greater threat - a condition with no cure in sight."

Dementia is said to be the UK's most feared illness (Getty Stock Images)

We are, of course, talking about dementia, an umbrella term for a group of progressive conditions, all of which cause a severe decline in mental abilities like memory, thinking and reasoning, due to brain cell damage.

The association between dementia and low self-esteem was made recently by experts working at University College London, who found that a sudden confidence knock is just one of the six unexpected life changes that the disease inflicts.

Others in this category include avoiding facing up to issues and conflicts, failing to show affection towards others, feeling nervous, never feeling satisfied by the way tasks are performed, and difficulty concentrating

In fact, these indicators are often used to diagnose a patient.

Those who experience confidence loss as a symptom of depression are reportedly more likely to be diagnosed with dementia (Getty Stock Images)

Dr Philipp Frank, the leader author of the study, found that individuals that suffered some symptom of depression upon reaching their middle age years - especially a personal confidence blow - were up to 50 per cent more likely to receive a subsequent dementia diagnosis.

"Our findings show that dementia risk is linked to a handful of depressive symptoms rather than depression as a whole," he told The Telegraph. "This symptom-level approach gives us a much clearer picture of who may be more vulnerable decades before dementia develops.

"Everyday symptoms that many people experience in midlife appear to carry important information about long-term brain health. Paying attention to these patterns could open new opportunities for early prevention."

Explaining why confidence loss specifically could result in a dementia diagnosis, the author added that this life change could inadvertently trigger reduced social skills, with sufferers experiencing a reduction in cognitively-stimulating experiences.

The association could also be used to assist with mental health research (Getty Stock Images)

Essentially, a healthy social life - which largely involves effort, as well as the seeking of outer-world approval - is viewed by many medics as crucial for building cognitive reserve.

UCL's faculty of brain sciences professor and fellow study leader, Mika Kivimäki also went on to emphasise that mental health research could also seek to benefit from these findings, adding that - like other mental health conditions - diagnosing depression isn't a simple box-ticking exercise.

"Symptoms vary widely and often overlap with anxiety," she explained, adding: "We found that these nuanced patterns can reveal who is at higher risk of developing neurological disorders.

"This brings us closer to more personalised and effective mental health treatments."