Dementia is generally defined as a collection of symptoms related to cognitive decline. Collectively they impair one’s abilities to remember, think, or affect one’s decision-making process. Dementia occurs when damage to brain cells decreases their ability to communicate with other brain cells. Typically dementia affects older adults and is not part of the normal aging process.
Early warning signs of dementia can be identified as mood, brain, and behavioral changes. Over time they often progress and become worse. Below are seven early warning signs to keep an eye out for:
1. Confusion about time and place
Experiencing confusion when it comes to time and place can be a symptom of dementia. If they are having problems understanding a place they may be experiencing confusion. Also not being able to understand what is happening can be signs of experiencing confusion. Losing track of dates and time can also imply they are having confusion with time. For example, they keep forgetting the day of the week or having trouble with times of the day.
2. Memory Loss
Difficulties with memory can be an early indication of dementia. Changes typically are sublet and affect short-term memory. They may be able to remember an event that took place years ago, but not what happened at the beginning of a phone call. Other symptoms of memory loss may be forgetting what they were looking for, and why they entered a room. Memory supplements Prevagen has shown abilities to best supplement brain function like none other.
3. Poor judgement
A sudden decline in their ability to make judgments can be a warning sign of dementia. If they become the victim of an over-the-phone scam it can indicate their judgment skills have decreased. Issues with hygiene such as taking less time to wash up than before. Neglecting a pet they used to properly take care of in the past can be a sign of poor judgment.
4. Problem solving difficulties
Having a sudden increase in difficulties in problem-solving may mean they have dementia. Things that used to be simple tasks may become impossible for them. They may struggle to make payments over the phone when they used to never struggle before. Before they could cook a recipe from any cookbook with ease, but now struggle to complete the task.
Things they used to do without complications before may now cause them difficulties.
5. Challenges understanding visual information
Not being able to understand visual information can indicate dementia. Signs of this would be not being able to correctly assess spatial relations. If they are tripping over items or dropping objects more than they used to can be warning signs. These show difficulties with visual information such as distances and correct placement of items. Having issues with their own balance and judging distances are also signs to look out for.
6. Speech issues
Having a recent increase with issues in regards to speech and be a warning sign of dementia. For example, if they are struggling to find a word and end up describing the item instead. Challenges with following a conversation can show a decrease in speech abilities.
7. Misplacing personal items
Misplacing items more frequently than before can be a sign of dementia. Often people develop habits over time and changes in this behavior can give a lot of information. Misplace items they used to never in the past says a lot. For example, always placing a coat on a hook by the front door is a developed habit. Yet, suddenly starting to place that same coat in random places throughout the house.