If you’re concerned about dementia, you probably know how difficult it can be to see the signs. Alzheimer’s disease is different for every person, and there are a lot of factors that play into early detection. It’s important to be aware of the early signs of dementia so you can seek help if you or someone you love has been diagnosed with this disease. However, there are some clear indicators that someone may be developing dementia or be at risk for developing it in the future. Here’s what to look out for:
Memory Loss
Memory loss is one of the most common early signs of dementia. It can occur in any stage of the disease, but it tends to be most noticeable at later stages. If a person experiences short-term memory loss, it may be because they are stressed or depressed or have been drinking alcohol excessively.
A more serious form of memory loss occurs when a person can’t remember what happened yesterday or last week—or even last month! This type of long-term amnesia may be caused by stress and depression, but some medical conditions can also affect your ability to form new memories.
Difficulty Finding the Right Word or Using the Wrong Word
This can be a sign of aphasia. If it’s happening when you’re speaking or if it’s happening when you’re writing, these are two different things:
Aphasia is similar to dyslexia in that it impacts people’s ability to access words from their memory bank. The difference is that with aphasia, this difficulty has been caused by brain damage or disease – whereas in dyslexia, it is caused by poor reading skills. This means that while someone with aphasia might struggle to find certain words they know in their head, they’ll often still be able to use them correctly once they’ve managed to find them again!
Having Trouble Keeping Track of Things, Like a Wallet Or Keys
If you’re having trouble keeping track of things, like a wallet or keys, it may be one of the most common early signs of dementia. Although this can happen to anyone at any age, if your memory is declining and it’s affecting how you handle day-to-day tasks like paying bills or remembering which items are in your fridge—it’s time to talk to your doctor.
If you’re noticing that this is happening more frequently than usual—or if other people have commented on it—consider using a wallet with a clip so that it stays attached to your pants pocket. You could also keep an extra set of house keys somewhere else in case they get lost when out shopping or running errands.
Decreased Or Poor Judgment
One of the early signs of dementia is a decline in judgment. This can be a significant problem for people with dementia and their caregivers, as it can affect their ability to make decisions or even complete simple tasks without assistance.
- Poor judgment – You may notice that your loved one seems less aware of their surroundings than before, or they are much more likely to say or do something inappropriate or dangerous without thinking about the consequences first.
- Impulsiveness – They may speak out when they shouldn’t or take unnecessary risks. For example, if you’re at home with them and they suddenly decide that it’s time for a drive somewhere (even though you just got back from that same place), there’s a good chance your loved one has begun exhibiting some troubling behavior due to poor judgment caused by dementia.
- Forgetfulness – If your loved one struggles with memory loss issues after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, then this could also lead directly to poor decisions being made more often than not as well—and those poor decisions might be harmful ones if left unchecked!
Conclusion
Dementia is a serious condition, and if you or someone you know has symptoms that could be related to it, it’s important to get an evaluation from a doctor as soon as possible.
