Early Symptoms and Warning Signs of Dementia
There are various forms of dementia. Instead, it’s a general phrase that designates a range of symptoms. These signs can impair a person’s memory, cognition, information processing, and interpersonal communication skills.
Dementia affects millions of people globally, and more than 10 million new cases are identified each year. Despite being the most frequent cause of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease is not the only one. There are some basic symptoms that are typical early warning indicators of dementia, even if the symptoms can vary depending on the underlying reason.
Simply having memory issues does not imply that you have dementia. To be diagnosed with dementia, you must have at least two types of impairments that severely interfere with your daily life. If dementia is diagnosed early, depending on the cause, there may be treatment options to slow the progression of cognitive decline.
The following are some examples of dementia symptoms:
- Memory lapses
- Planning or problem-solving difficulties
- Difficulty performing routine tasks
- Being perplexed by time or location
- Misplacing items
- Poor decision-making or judgment
Some people might become preoccupied and forget to serve a portion of a meal. A person suffering from dementia may struggle with all of the tasks needed in meal preparation. With the development of dementia, a person’s sense of direction and spatial orientation frequently deteriorates. They may have difficulty identifying once-known landmarks and may forget how to go to familiar areas that they used to find easily. Memory problems might be an early indicator of dementia.
The alterations are frequently modest and involve short-term memory. People with dementia may recall events from years ago but not what they ate for breakfast. For example, they may regularly forget their day’s plans or the whereabouts of a crucial item. Another effect of cognitive decline is the loss of decision-making capacity. A person suffering from dementia, for example, may be unable to notice unsafe circumstances. They may attempt to cross a busy street without waiting until it is safe or dress in summer attire while it is snowing.
When It’s Time for Assistance
Remember that many illnesses have symptoms that are similar to dementia, so don’t assume someone has dementia just because some of the aforementioned symptoms are present. Dementia-like symptoms can be caused by so many different factors that are related to other things. Many of these illnesses are curable. Testing is, therefore, necessary to check that this is the case for your loved one, and obtaining numerous feedback versions is essential to be specific.
Although there is no proven way to prevent the beginning of dementia, a caregiver and your loved one can make efforts to lower their chances of having this illness in the future. A care professional can help your loved one complete essential preventative steps to ensure their brain remains healthy. This covers activities such as:
- Completing puzzles, memory games, and reading to keep the mind and brain engaged.
- Keeping the body active by going on regular walks, fishing, doing modest workouts, or helping with household tasks.
- Maintaining a nutritious and balanced diet for your loved one. A healthy diet offers several advantages, including improved brain health.