Early Warning Signs of Dementia
The early symptoms of dementia are often subtle and can be confused with normal aging or other medical conditions. However, recognizing these signs early on can help individuals seek treatment and make lifestyle changes that can delay the progression of the disease.
Dementia will most likely manifest as memory loss in its early stages, but some symptoms can depend on the specific cause of the dementia.
The early indicators of dementia may not be immediately apparent. Early symptoms vary greatly depending on the kind of dementia and from person to person. However, there are a few signs you or your loved one should not ignore if you notice them. It can be tempting to ignore or dismiss new symptoms as needless worry, but being proactive is crucial to maintaining a healthy lifestyle as long as possible in all avenues of your health. Do not ever hesitate to schedule an appointment with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
Ten Dementia Warning Signs
It’s important to note that having any of the symptoms indicated below does not necessarily guarantee that you or a loved one have dementia. To be diagnosed with dementia, a patient must have at least two impairments that severely interfere with daily life.
However, being proactive is essential, as if dementia is detected early enough, there can be therapeutic options to reduce the progression of the disease.
1. Memory Loss
The most common and familiar sign of dementia is memory loss, particularly short-term memory loss. Individuals may have trouble remembering recent events, conversations, or appointments. In a previous article, we discussed why short-term memory is impacted faster than long-term memory.
The hippocampus, which is involved in forming new memories and acquiring new knowledge, is usually impacted first in Alzheimer’s disease. This can make it difficult to remember recent events or conversations and may cause them to repeat themselves. However, the hippocampus is less critical for recovering memories from a long time ago. This is why a person may remember childhood experiences but forget what they had for breakfast that morning.
2. Difficulty with activities of daily living (ADLs)
As dementia progresses, individuals may have trouble with activities of daily living. Here is a brief list of basic ADLs:
- Ambulating: being able to move about freely, independently, and safely.
- Feeding: being able to feed oneself.
- Dressing: putting together an outfit and wearing it appropriately.
- Hygiene: maintaining personal hygiene, including brushing teeth, grooming, and bathing.
- Continence: the ability to control bladder and bowel movements.
- Toileting: being able to use the restroom and clean oneself properly.
3. Disorientation
People with dementia may have difficulties finding their way to a familiar location, become confused about where they are, or believe they have returned to a previous point in their life.
4. Linguistic Difficulties
A person who has dementia may forget basic terms or substitute inappropriate ones, saying things that are difficult to understand. This can manifest as difficulty finding the right words, repeating the same phrases, or struggling to follow a conversation or understand others.
5. Difficulty in multi-step thinking and tasks
Tasks that require multiple steps, such as managing money, may become exceedingly difficult to complete. This can be due to short-term memory loss or a growing difficulty to understand the meaning behind certain things (i.e. in money management, understanding what the numbers mean and what to do with them).
6. Poor Judgment
Dementia can affect an individual’s judgment and decision-making abilities. They may make poor financial decisions, be unable to appropriately assess level of risk in certain situations, or dress inappropriately for the weather.
7. Weakened Spatial Abilities
When moving around or driving a vehicle, a person with developing dementia may have difficulties gauging distance or direction.
8. Losing Things
Individuals with dementia may frequently misplace items, forget their intended purpose, or put them in unusual places.
9. Changes In Mood, Attitude, or Behavior
Dementia can cause significant changes in an individual’s mood or behavior. They may be more apathetic or withdrawn, or become irritable or agitated for seemingly no reason.
10. Low Motivation
Everyone gets bored with their favorite activities or routine on occasion. However, a person with dementia may lose interest in activities they once enjoyed or need active encouragement to get involved.
Conditions with Dementia-Like Symptoms
Many conditions have symptoms similar to dementia. Dementia-like symptoms may be caused by multiple things, including strokes, depression and excessive long-term alcohol intake. Many of these are treatable or curable.
- Depression: Depression can cause memory problems, lack of concentration, and difficulty with decision-making. In severe cases, depression can also cause delusions or hallucinations.
- Delirium: Delirium is a sudden onset of confusion and disorientation that can occur due to a medical condition, medication, or drug use. The symptoms of delirium can be similar to dementia, but delirium is usually reversible with treatment.
- Thyroid problems: Both an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) and an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) can cause cognitive problems, including memory loss and confusion.
- Vitamin deficiencies: Deficiencies in vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B12, and folate can cause cognitive problems and memory loss.
- Parkinson’s disease: Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that can cause tremors, rigidity, and difficulty with movement. In later stages, Parkinson’s disease can also cause cognitive problems, including memory loss and difficulty with decision-making.
- Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH): NPH is a condition that occurs when there is an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, leading to cognitive problems. NPH is one of the potential causes of dementia that can be prevented with treatment.
When to See a Doctor
It’s important to be proactive and book an appointment if you have any concerns. Being proactive ensures that concerns can be addressed before they become larger issues.
At the appointment, your doctor will likely conduct a thorough medical history and physical examination. They may also order tests, such as blood tests and brain imaging, to rule out other medical conditions that can cause similar symptoms. They may also perform cognitive tests to assess memory, thinking, and language abilities.
If your doctor suspects dementia, they may refer you to a specialist, such as a neurologist or a geriatric psychiatrist, for further evaluation and treatment. The specialist may conduct additional tests, such as neuropsychological testing, to assess cognitive function and determine the type of dementia.
Dementia is more frequent in those over 65, though it can also affect persons in their 30s, 40s, and 50s in certain situations.
You may be able to delay the advancement of dementia and keep mental function for a longer length of time with early detection. Medication, cognitive training, and counseling can be employed as treatments.
Conclusion
It can be incredibly easy to choose to ignore certain symptoms or signs when they begin to show up — whether that is due to anxiety in bringing it up with a loved one or worry over your own health. But early detection and treatment is crucial to maintaining independence and good quality of life for as long as possible.
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