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6 early dementia symptoms to look for in a loved one, as explained by a doctor
Someone in the world develops dementia every three seconds, and catching it early is really important. While there is no cure, diagnosing in the first stages can slow it down and help a person maintain mental function for longer.
Often, someone may not recognize their declining ability to remember, think, or make decisions, but people around them can pick up on the signs, so it’s important to be aware of the early dementia symptoms to look for in a loved one.
6 early dementia symptoms
Claire Steves, Consultant Geriatrician and Professor of Ageing and Health, revealed six signs to look out for during an episode of the ZOE Science & Nutrition�podcast. She explained that different dementias can prevent themselves in different ways, but these are often the most common symptoms.
1. Change in cognitive function
The main thing to look out for, Steves explained, is a change in cognitive function. This is a broad term that refers to the�mental processes we use in everyday life.
The American Psychological Association describes it as “the performance of the mental processes of perception, learning, memory, understanding, awareness, reasoning, judgment, intuition, and language”.
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So, any noticeable decline in the way someone uses their brain, could be a sign of early dementia. This could relate to many different things like thinking, remembering, reading, or speaking.
2. Memory loss
The most common decline in cognitive function is memory loss, which is usually the first sign of Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s is a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and is the most common type of dementia worldwide.
If you suddenly notice a loved one forgetting things, getting confused, struggling to think of words or asking lots of questions, this could be an early symptom.
3. Personality change
Steves said that other forms of dementia can start with personality change, a symptom which is often picked up by family members or friends.
People with dementia sometimes have strange behavior, cannot control their emotions or act in ways that are very different from their usual self, MedlinePlus explains.
They may become apathetic, meaning that they are no longer interested in normal daily activities or events, and may lose their inhibitions or stop caring about other peoples’ feelings.
4. Falling over
Another key sign of the syndrome is problems with movement, balance and muscle weakness. The most visible sign of this is falling over.
Difficulty walking or a change in the way a person walks could also be an early sign of a neurodegenerative disease.
People with dementia may also regularly wander off, get lost and become disoriented due to memory issues.
5. Difficulty regulating blood pressure
The doctor explained that if someone has difficulty regulating their blood pressure, that could be an early sign of dementia too.
A study in the Bentham Science Journal found that brain changes due to dementia may influence blood pressure regulation.
This is because a number of different areas of the brain that are involved in blood pressure regulation can be damaged by dementia.
6. Sleep issues
In all dementias, issues with sleep or changing sleeping patterns can often be one of the earliest symptoms.
Some of these changes are part of normal aging, and difficulty sleeping can be a sign of a number of different issues.
However, dementia can impact areas of the brain that control sleep, causing changes like sleeping more during the day and being awake at night.
If you think someone close to you may have dementia, encourage them to speak to a healthcare professional who can offer guidance.
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