One of the major fears of many people entering their 60’s, 70’s and beyond is the prospect of developing dementia. I would bet that most/all of us have had relatives or friends that have developed dementia and we have witnessed the devastation brought on to only to the affected person but to their families as well. It is important to notice the early signs of dementia for several reasons including: 1- initiate treatment in the early phases and 2- allow for planning for the eventual outcome of the process, such as financial planning, long term care etc.
Here are some of the early signs of impending dementia:
- Memory Loss: Forgetting recently learned info, important dates, asking repetitive questions, needing frequent reminders.
- Challenges in Planning or Solving Problems: Difficulty following a familiar recipe, managing bills, or concentrating on tasks.
- Difficulty Completing Familiar Tasks: Forgetting how to get to a familiar place or play a favorite game.
- Confusion with Time or Place: Losing track of dates, seasons, or locations, or forgetting how they got somewhere.
- Trouble Understanding Visual Images and Spatial Relationships: Vision problems, difficulty judging distance, or issues with balance.
- New Problems with Words in Speaking or Writing: Struggling to find the right word, stopping in the middle of conversations, or calling things by the wrong name.
- Misplacing Things and Losing Ability to Retrace Steps: Putting things in unusual places and being unable to find them, sometimes accusing others.
- Decreased or Poor Judgment: Making bad financial decisions, neglecting personal hygiene, or showing poor decision-making.
- Withdrawal from Work or Social Activities: Pulling away from hobbies, social events, or sports.
- Changes in Mood and Personality: Becoming confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful, or easily upset; or conversely, becoming disinhibited and acting out of character (especially in frontotemporal dementia
If you notice any/many of these above signs occurring in you or a loved one, please arrange for a visit with your doctor to explore this in much more detail.
One more point: depression may often mimic dementia symptoms so it is also important to be seen by a healthcare specialist to explore this possibility as the treatment strategy is different.
