Dementia
is a term that describes a variety of symptoms affecting a person's cognitive
functioning, including their ability to think, remember, and reason. It tends
to get worse over time, so there are a few key early warning signs.
Dementia occurs when
nerve cells in a person's brain stop working. Although it typically happens in
older people, it is not an inevitable part of aging. The brain's natural
deterioration happens to everyone as they grow older, but it occurs more
quickly in people with dementia.
There are many different types of
dementia. According to the National Institute
on Aging, the most common is Alzheimer's disease. Other
types include:
- Lewy body dementia
- frontotemporal dementia
- vascular disorders
- mixed dementia, or a combination of types
There are 10 typical early signs of
dementia. For a person to receive a diagnosis, they would usually experience
two or more of these symptoms, and the symptoms would be severe enough to
interfere with their daily life.
These early signs of dementia are:
Share
on PinterestA person developing dementia may have trouble remembering dates or
events.
Memory loss is a common symptom of
dementia.
A person with dementia may find it
difficult to recall information they have recently learned, such as dates or
events, or new information.
They may find they rely on friends
and family or other memory aids for keeping track of things.
Most people occasionally forget
things more frequently as they age. They can usually can recall them later if
their memory loss is age-related and not due to dementia.
2. Difficulty planning or solving
problems
A person with dementia may find it
difficult to follow a plan, such as a recipe when cooking, or directions when
driving.
Problem-solving
may also get more challenging, such as when adding up numbers to paying bills.
A
person with dementia may find it difficult to complete tasks they regularly do,
such as changing settings on a television, operating a computer, making a cup
of tea, or getting to a familiar location. This difficulty with familiar tasks
could happen at home or work.
4. Being confused about time or
place
Dementia can make it hard to judge
the passing of time. People may also forget where they are at any time.
They may find it hard to understand
events in the future or the past and may struggle with dates.
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Visual information can be
challenging for a person with dementia. It can be hard to read, to judge
distances, or work out the differences between colors.
Someone who usually drives or cycles
may start to find these activities challenging.
Share
on PinterestHandwriting may become less legible as dementia progresses.
A person with dementia may find it
hard to engage in conversations.
They may forget what they are saying
or what somebody else has said. It can be difficult to enter a conversation.
People may also find their spelling,
punctuation, and grammar get worse.
Some people's handwriting becomes
more difficult to read.
A person with dementia may not be
able to remember where they leave everyday objects, such as a remote control,
important documents, cash, or their keys.
Misplacing possessions can be
frustrating and may mean they accuse other people of stealing.
It can be hard for someone with
dementia to understand what is fair and reasonable. This may mean they pay too
much for things, or become easily sure about buying things they do not need.
Some people with dementia also pay
less attention to keeping themselves clean and presentable.
A person with dementia may become
uninterested in socializing with other people, whether in their home life or at
work.
They may become withdrawn and not
talk to others, or not pay attention when others are speaking to them. They may
stop doing hobbies or sports that involve other people.
A person with dementia may
experience mood swings or personality changes. For example, they may become
irritable, depressed, fearful, or anxious.
They may also become more
disinhibited or act inappropriately.
A person who experiences any of
these symptoms or notices them in a loved one should speak to a medical
professional.
According to the Alzheimer's
Association, it is a myth that cognitive functioning always gets
worse as a person gets older. Signs of cognitive decline may be dementia or
another illness for which doctors can provide support.
Although there is no cure for
dementia yet, a doctor can help slow the progression of the disease and ease
the symptoms, and so improve a person's quality of life.
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