Once we reach a certain age, our bodies and our health tend to feel the impacts of getting older. We move a bit slower, have aches and pains that weren’t there before, and overall we start feeling the effects of aging. While this is all normal, what’s not a normal sign of aging is persistent memory loss – specifically, the advancing memory loss that comes with Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, or other types of memory impairment.
When we or a loved one start exhibiting memory issues, families will typically react in one of two ways: immediately jump to the conclusion that the memory loss is dementia, or alternatively, brush the issue under the rug in the hopes that it goes away. Neither of these options, however, is the best way to approach the situation.
Just because an individual is having problems remembering where they put their keys or a conversation they had last week, doesn’t automatically mean that they have some form of dementia. There are certain signs to signal that memory loss is more than just a ‘senior moment.’ Knowing the signs will help you know when symptoms are associated with normal aging, or if they’re potentially indicating something more serious.
Dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease attack the entire brain, causing an individual to lose abilities in reasoning, communication, language, focus and memory. In other words, it’s more than just a memory issue – dementia is a full-body issue.
Generally, a person will have at least two significant types of impairment before a doctor will give a diagnosis of dementia. There are ten early warning signs of dementia to look out for if you’re worried for your or a loved one’s cognitive health.
1. Short-term memory issues.
The most common and visible symptom of dementia is having memory trouble. Oftentimes, these start out very small and affect short-term memory versus long-term memory. For example, your mother may be able to remember every detail of the house she grew up in, but can’t remember what she bought at the grocery store that morning. Memory problems can also manifest in someone not remembering where they are or how they got there, forgetting schedules, or not being able to find various everyday items.
2. Difficulty finding the right words.
Many forms of dementia first manifest in the part of our brain that deals with communication and speech. That’s why you’ll often see people with dementia struggling to find the right words, or having difficulty getting their point across during a conversation. They may substitute similar sounding words or pause for long stretches of time to try and find the words to say what they mean. Conversations can become fragmented and confused, making it hard (and frustrating) to try and determine what the person is trying to say.
3. Sudden mood changes.
If your happy-go-lucky dad suddenly becomes sullen and morose, or your normally socially active mother becomes fearful to go outside, this could be a sign of dementia. Personality shifts can indicate a cause for concern, so it’s important to schedule a checkup if your loved one suddenly starts acting strangely. While there are many reasons why they may be acting the way they are (for example, certain medications can cause confusion or mood shifts), it’s best to rule out the possibilities in order to get them the best possible help.
4. Becoming apathetic.
It’s common for someone with early dementia to lose interest in the hobbies and activities they’ve always enjoyed doing. They may become more isolated and shy away from friends and family. They may seem listless, apathetic or depressed. These are signs and symptoms that should be evaluated by a physician.
5. Not remembering how to complete everyday tasks.
If mom suddenly forgets how to make a recipe that she’s been baking for fifty years, it’s a possible indication that early dementia is at play. Things like balancing a checkbook, playing a favorite game, or not remembering how to use the washing machine are all examples of familiar tasks that can suddenly become a struggle for a person with dementia.
6. Significant confusion.
Normal age-related memory loss can cause confusion for seniors – such as forgetting where their glasses are (on top of their head) or where they put their keys (which are in their hands) or anything else. That’s just a symptom of our busy, full-of-information lives and a common part of aging. However, when judgment starts becoming compromised, or if your loved one can’t remember faces of people they know well, or perhaps forget what day or month it is, that could be a signal of something more serious.
7. Difficulty following complex lines of thinking.
Dementia causes brains to have difficulty following complicated storylines or conversations, meaning that the person easily becomes confused when in large groups or while watching TV. This difficulty causes confusion, anxiety and stress – all things which make the symptoms of dementia even more aggravated.
8. Losing spatial awareness and sense of direction.
People with early dementia can suddenly start shuffling or becoming clumsier because their spatial awareness becomes compromised due to changes in the brain. They may also start to forget how to get to familiar places (like the grocery store) or not recognize landmarks. Following directions can become more and more difficult, even if the steps are laid out for them.
9. Repetition.
Repetition is common in dementia because short-term memory loss makes the person forget that they’ve just done/said/questioned something a moment before. A person may repeat a question incessantly or perform a task over and over. Sometimes it may even be a word or fragment of a phrase that gets repeated.
10. Difficulty adapting to change.
For someone in the early stages of dementia, the world can easily become a scary and uncertain place. Think about it: suddenly, they don’t remember the people closest to them, and they can’t understand what someone else is saying. They don’t know why they went to the store, or they become lost on a walk around the block. It can be a terrifying situation, which is why so many people with early dementia cling to routine and have trouble if their routine changes. They may also be afraid to try new things or go new places because the unknown causes anxiety and confusion.
If your loved one is exhibiting one or more of these symptoms – or even if he or she is just making you question their health – it’s important to visit a doctor to get things checked out. There are many reasons other than dementia that may cause a person to act differently than usual, so it’s best to make sure to rule out any health-related issues that can be treated, cured or reversed. Although Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are not yet curable, finding the disease as early as possible can help your loved one get the care and support they need in order to live the best quality of life possible.
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