10 Early Signs of Dementia You Should NEVER Ignore

Dementia is not a specific disease, but a general term for a decline in cognitive ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Early detection is crucial for accessing treatment, support, and planning for the future.

If you notice these signs persistently and represent a change from a person’s usual abilities, it is essential to consult a healthcare professional for a comprehensive evaluation. Many conditions, like depression, vitamin deficiencies, or thyroid issues, can mimic dementia and are treatable.

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1. Memory Loss That Disrupts Daily Life

• What it is: Forgetting recently learned information, important dates or events, asking for the same information over and over, increasingly needing to rely on memory aids or family members for things they used to handle on their own.

• What’s typical: Occasionally forgetting names or appointments but remembering them later.

2. Difficulty Planning or Solving Problems

• What it is: Changes in the ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. Trouble following a familiar recipe, keeping track of monthly bills, or concentrating on complex tasks. Takes much longer to do things than before.

• What’s typical: Making occasional errors when managing finances or bills.

3. Trouble Completing Familiar Tasks

• What it is: Difficulty completing routine tasks at home, at work, or during leisure. May have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work, or remembering the rules of a favorite game.

• What’s typical: Occasionally needing help to use a setting on a microwave or to record a TV show.

4. Confusion with Time or Place

• What it is: Losing track of dates, seasons, and the passage of time. May forget where they are or how they got there. May have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately.

• What’s typical: Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later.

5. New Problems with Words in Speaking or Writing

• What it is: Trouble following or joining a conversation. May stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue, or they may repeat themselves. May struggle with vocabulary, call things by the wrong name (e.g., calling a “watch” a “hand-clock”).

• What’s typical: Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.

6. Misplacing Things and Losing the Ability to Retrace Steps

• What it is: Putting things in unusual places (e.g., keys in the refrigerator). Losing things and being unable to go back over their steps to find them. May accuse others of stealing, especially as the dementia progresses.

• What’s typical: Misplacing things from time to time and retracing steps to find them.

7. Decreased or Poor Judgment

• What it is: Changes in judgment or decision-making. May use poor judgment with money (e.g., giving large sums to telemarketers). May pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean.

• What’s typical: Making a bad decision or a financial mistake once in a while.

8. Withdrawal from Work or Social Activities

• What it is: Withdrawing from hobbies, social activities, work projects, or sports. May have trouble remembering how to complete a favorite hobby or may avoid social situations because of the changes they are experiencing.

• What’s typical: Sometimes feeling weary of work, family, and social obligations.

9. Changes in Mood and Personality

• What it is: Becoming confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful, or anxious. May be easily upset at home, at work, with friends, or in places where they are out of their comfort zone.

• What’s typical: Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted.

10. Visual-Spatial Difficulties

• What it is: Trouble reading, judging distance, and determining color or contrast, which may cause problems with driving. May have trouble recognizing their own reflection.

• What’s typical: Vision changes related to cataracts or other age-related eye conditions.

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What to Do If You Notice These Signs

1. Do NOT Ignore Them. Early diagnosis allows for access to treatments that may help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

2. Schedule a Doctor’s Appointment. A primary care physician or neurologist can conduct a thorough evaluation. This includes:

   • A detailed medical history.

   • Physical and neurological exams.

   • Cognitive and neuropsychological tests.

   • Blood tests (to rule out other causes).

   • Brain imaging (MRI or CT scan).

3. Be a Supportive Partner. If you are concerned about a loved one, approach the conversation with compassion and concern for their health, not accusation. Offer to go to the doctor with them.

4. Educate and Plan. Seek information from reputable sources like the Alzheimer’s Association or Alzheimer’s Society. Early diagnosis provides time to plan for legal, financial, and care needs.

Important Note: This list is for educational purposes and is not a diagnostic tool. Only a qualified healthcare professional can diagnose dementia or related conditions. Taking action with a doctor is the single most important step.