7 Early Warning Signs of Dementia

You've probably heard it before: an older loved one forgetting their keys and worrying that is a sign of dementia. However, identifying the early signs of dementia is more complicated than that.

While people with dementia often exhibit forgetfulness, there are other specific early warning signs of dementia that family members should know to look out for.

What is dementia?

Before understanding the risk factors and early warning signs of dementia, it’s important to understand what dementia is and how it impacts older adults. The Alzheimer's Association defines dementia as “a cognitive impairment of one’s mental, and sometimes physical, ability to perform normal, daily activities.” Memory loss is one such symptom associated with dementia.

Dementia is not a specific disease but a generalized description of similar symptoms across many different diseases that can impact memory and cognition. Alzheimer’s disease is one such disease and is the most common type of dementia. Other examples of dementia are frontotemporal dementia and vascular dementia. These diseases differ in the early stages and presentation of symptoms.

Common early signs of dementia

While symptoms of early onset dementia may vary based on the different types of dementia, common early signs of dementia include:

• Difficulty performing activities of daily living  (ADL)
• Inability to problem solve
• Confusion about time or place
• Driving issues
• Speech impairment
• Personality changes
• Withdrawal from social activities
• Sudden or consistent presentation of one or more of these symptoms may suggest the need for a physician consultation.

Difficulty performing familiar tasks

We all forget small things like keys from time to time, only to remember where we put them later on: this is entirely normal.

For signs of memory impairment, take note when a loved one suddenly experiences memory loss related to tasks they perform all the time. Look for signs such as an inability to follow a familiar recipe or to recite a home address.

These may be signs of more serious cognitive impairment. Consult your family medical history and make an appointment with a physician to be sure.

Inability to problem solve

When we do experience momentary memory loss, our reaction to the situation can be very telling. For example, when your loved one loses keys at home, are they able to retrace their steps in order to problem solve and find them?

If connecting the dots seems more difficult than it should be, your loved one may be showing early signs of cognitive decline.

Confusion about time or place

Forgetting the time or date is relatively normal for people juggling a busy schedule. What’s not normal is forgetting where you are or how you got there.

If you learn that a loved one becomes suddenly disoriented and unable to retrace the steps that got them to a certain location, this may be a sign of cognitive decline.

This sign of memory impairment is not to be taken lightly; wandering is one of the most dangerous side effects of Alzheimer’s and Dementia, and noticing the signs early on can help loved ones stay safe before things get worse.

If you are worried about a loved one with memory problems or impairment, it’s important to get a physician’s diagnosis so you can understand how to move forward with memory care.

Driving issues

Driving can be hazardous as we get older; our vision declines and our reflexes slow down, leading to a greater risk of getting into automobile accidents. This risk only increases in those with dementia.

Dementia symptoms may affect driving, causing loved ones to lose the ability to recognize spatial relationships. People experiencing cognitive decline may also find that they get lost in familiar areas.

Furthermore, memory changes related to dementia can be scary and uncomfortable, leading to the driver being distracted and emotional while on the road.

To help your loved ones stay safe, consider volunteering to transport them or hiring an in-home caregiver to take on the responsibility instead.

Speech impairment

Sometimes we trip over our words or blank when we try to think of one in particular, getting that frustrating ‘tip-of-the-tongue’ feeling. However, this does not mean you are having the type of cognitive troubles that lead to memory decline.

Look instead for moments when the wrong word is used, or it is difficult to recall the name of a familiar object. If symptoms worsen, you may notice that your loved one has difficulty reading, writing, and speaking clear sentences.

Personality changes

If your loved one was always a happy-go-lucky person and suddenly they appear inexplicably angry or agitated, this could signify other underlying problems related to dementia.

As the disease progresses, the inability to recognize people and places can lead to fear and anxiety, forever altering the loved one’s personality.

Try to be understanding and patient with your loved one as they navigate these difficult changes. Even if they become angry and lash out, it is up to the caregiver to be supportive and react well to mood swings.

Withdrawal from social activities

The confusion brought on by dementia can lead to withdrawal from activities that your loved one used to enjoy. They may be embarrassed about not remembering faces or fearful that they will become agitated once they forget where they are.

If you are concerned about a loved one with memory impairment becoming lonely or isolated, consider taking them to visit a local senior center or volunteer event; you can even try some activities at home with your loved one to keep them engaged with the family.

Having you there may help your loved one feel more comfortable while navigating new experiences.

What to do if you think a loved one has dementia

If you think you or a loved one has dementia, the next thing to do is talk to a doctor. There are clinical tests that trained elder-care doctors, such as neurologists, use to determine whether or not a patient has dementia.

To learn more about dementia, the Alzheimer's Association outlines the types of dementia that you or your loved one may have. Treatment for dementia will vary greatly depending on the type.

How to diagnose dementia? Vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and more

Once you see a doctor, they will likely go through a process to diagnose the specific type of dementia and understand how it’s impacting the individual.

Whether it's vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, mixed dementia, or something else, the most common warning signs and processes to diagnose dementia include:

• Reviewing family medical history
• Performing a physical examination
• Gathering laboratory tests
• Neurological examination and cognitive testing
• Brain imaging

Doctors will likely begin by reviewing your family medical history to see if you have any history of dementias such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, or frontotemporal dementia.

Then, the patient will undergo a physical exam and several diagnostic tests, during which the doctor will ask about the patient’s lifestyle and symptoms. Blood and urine samples are often taken for laboratory testing. An early diagnosis may be made.

A doctor may also decide to conduct a neurological exam, during which he or she will evaluate the patient for signs of memory impairment or memory loss. Brain imaging is sometimes done along with the neurological exam.

If you are worried about yourself or a loved one developing dementia or early onset Alzheimer's disease, consider making a doctor’s appointment to discuss your concerns. An early diagnosis could be a game-changer for you and your family.

Moreover, if you have a loved one who has dementia or progressed to the point that they are in need of memory care, Seniorly is full of senior housing communities that specialize in memory care for those with Alzheimer's and other related dementias.