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These Are The Early Dementia Signs That Are Missed The Most ... - Yahoo
There are twice as many centenarians (people 100 years old or older) in the U.S. Than there were 20 years ago, according to the Population Division of the United Nations. Exciting, right? If you want to live into the triple digits, having a healthy body and mind are likely at the top of your health goals.
According to a 2023 Alzheimer's Association report, more than six million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia. It can be tricky to pick up on the earliest signs of Alzheimer's because they can often be mistaken as just part of getting older. On the other hand, you could be fretting over things you think are symptoms of dementia, but actually aren't. Here, experts specializing in dementia explain how to know the difference between early signs of dementia and what's considered a normal part of aging. Plus, find out the early dementia symptoms many miss.
Related: Doing This One Thing Every Day Could Lower Your Risk of Dementia, According to a Cleveland Clinic Neuropsychologist
Commonly Missed Early Dementia Signs, According to NeurologistsClinical neuropsychologist Dr. Lynn Schaefer, PhD, ABPP-CN, says that the main early sign of dementia to be aware of is a change from one's previous level of functioning. "Many signs of dementia are a question of degree," she says. "It is normal to misplace your keys occasionally or forget where you parked; if you find them and then forget how to drive, that is obviously more concerning."
Neurologist Dr. Nicole Purcell, DO, MS, who is the senior director of clinical practice at the Alzheimer's Association, says that many people equate Alzheimer's to memory loss, but signs many miss is that it can also involve changes in mood, trouble making decisions and altered judgment. She also echoes Dr. Schaefer, saying that changes in functioning are important to be aware of. "For example, you may see a family member struggling with day-to-day tasks they used to do easily, like making a familiar recipe or balancing the checkbook," Dr. Purcell says.
Other early signs of dementia, according to Dr. Purcell, include getting lost mid-conversation and finding it hard to get back on track, misplacing items, not being able to retrace one's steps and withdrawing from social activities one used to enjoy. Early signs of dementia can also include getting lost in familiar settings, new poor hygiene, being unable to complete simple tasks and forgetting major dates and consequential events, according to Dr. Schaefer.
Both Dr. Purcell and Dr. Schaefer say that early signs of dementia typically start after age 60, with incidences increasing as one ages. Rarely, someone may start experiencing these symptoms as early as their 40s, if they have early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
Related: Research Suggests a Surprising Connection Between Social Connection and Dementia Risk—Here's What To Know
Normal Parts of Aging That Aren't Signs of DementiaSimilar to how some people miss the early signs of dementia, sometimes, someone will self-diagnose themself (or a loved one) with dementia if they experience anything related to memory problems at all. PSA: It's completely normal to forget things sometimes. Dr. Schaefer says that age-related changes that are often mistaken for symptoms of dementia include:
forgetting a new acquaintance's name
forgetting why you walked into a room
misplacing things but finding them later
taking longer to learn something new
taking longer to retrieve common words or names
finding it harder to pay attention to detail
finding it harder to multitask
Rest assured that if you forget the name of a new neighbor who just moved in or it took you 10 minutes to remember where you left your phone, it's very likely just part of aging. Blips like that can happen to anyone.
Related: A Study of 12,000 People Found That Taking This One Supplement May Lower Dementia Risk by 40%
What To Do if You or a Loved One Has Signs of DementiaNow that you know the difference between early signs of dementia and what's considered a normal part of aging, it's important to know what to do if you or a loved one is, in fact, showing early signs of dementia. If you have noticed these changes in yourself, Dr. Purcell says to see your primary healthcare provider. "Your primary care doctor will evaluate your overall health and identify any other conditions that could be affecting your cognition. Your physician may also perform a brief cognitive assessment," Dr. Purcell says, of what to expect from the appointment.
Dr. Purcell says that these assessments can take many forms, including a physician asking about your cognitive concerns, directly observing your interactions, seeking input from family and friends, or using short verbal or written tests that can be administered easily in your physician's office. "While these assessments do not provide a definitive diagnosis, they are a first step to determine if problems exist and more advanced testing is needed," she says. "If cognitive decline is detected, your physician may order advanced testing or refer you to a specialist for a more definitive diagnosis."
If you notice that a loved one is showing early signs of dementia, both experts say that it's important to approach the topic gently. "If you're worried about one of your parents, talk to your other parent, siblings, or anyone else your parents are close to and share your concerns," Dr. Purcell says. "Ask if anyone else is noticing the same signs you are and remember that spouses often cover for one another. Discuss who is best to have the conversation. Ideally, choose someone your family member trusts and is likely to listen to."
When it comes to what to say, Dr. Purcell says to be compassionate. "Start by sharing some of the things you're seeing and asking if your loved one is also concerned. For example, 'Mom, we were worried when you forgot to show up at your grandson's birthday, and I'd like to talk to you about why that happened because it's not like you,'" she says. "Focus on specifics, share them in a way you think your family member will be able to hear it, and let them know you've got their back."
When it comes to dementia, the earlier one receives help, the better. And remember, there are always resources available to you and your loved ones. Ask your primary care provider to connect you to a support group or join one of the Alzheimer's Association support groups. Leaning on each other is another part of aging, and it's one everyone can benefit from.
Next up, here's what you need to know about the connection between magnesium deficiency and dementia risk.
Sources11 Early Signs Of Dementia: What To Watch Out For - Healthline
Memory problems alone don't mean you have dementia. The symptoms must significantly interfere with your everyday life for a doctor to diagnose dementia.
Dementia can cause impairments that affect:
Depending on the cause, if a doctor diagnoses dementia early, treatment options may help slow cognitive decline.
1. Subtle short-term memory changes
Having trouble with memory can be an early symptom of dementia. The changes are often subtle and tend to involve short-term memory. A person with dementia may be able to remember events that took place years ago but not what they had for breakfast.
A person with dementia may have other changes in their short-term memory, such as:
2. Difficulty finding the right words
Another early symptom of dementia is difficulty with communicating thoughts. A person with dementia may have difficulty explaining something or finding the right words to express themselves. They may also stop in the middle of a sentence and not know how to continue.
Having a conversation with a person who has dementia can be challenging, and it may take longer than usual for them to express their thoughts or feelings.
3. Changes in mood
A change in mood is also common with dementia. If you have dementia, it may not be easy to recognize this in yourself, but you may notice this change in someone else. Depression, for instance, is common in the early stages of dementia.
Someone who has dementia may also seem more fearful or anxious than they were before. They may get easily upset if their usual daily routine changes, or if they find themselves in unfamiliar situations.
Along with mood changes, you might also notice a shift in personality.
4. Apathy
Apathy, or listlessness, is a common symptom of early dementia. A person with dementia may lose interest in hobbies or activities they used to enjoy. They may not want to go out anymore or have fun.
They may also lose interest in spending time with friends and family and seem emotionally flat.
5. Difficulty completing tasks
A subtle shift in the ability to complete everyday tasks is another possible early indicator of dementia. This usually starts with difficulty doing more complex tasks, like:
Along with completing familiar tasks, a person with dementia may find it hard to learn new things or follow new routines.
6. Confusion
Someone in the early stages of dementia may often become confused. They may have trouble remembering faces, knowing what day or month it is, or figuring out where they are.
Confusion can occur for a number of reasons and apply to different situations. For example, they may misplace their car keys, forget what comes next in the day, or have difficulty remembering someone they recently met.
7. Difficulty following storylines
Difficulty following storylines is a classic early symptom of dementia. People with dementia often forget the meaning of words they hear or find it difficult to follow conversations or TV programs.
8. A failing sense of direction
A person's sense of direction and spatial orientation can start to worsen with the onset of dementia. They may have difficulty recognizing common landmarks and forget how to get to places that were once familiar.
It may also become more difficult to follow a series of directions and step-by-step instructions.
9. Repetition
The person may repeat daily tasks, such as shaving or bathing, or they may collect items obsessively. They may repeat the same questions in a conversation or tell the same story more than once.
10. Difficulty adapting to change
For someone in the early stages of dementia, the experience can cause fear. Suddenly, they can't remember people they know or follow what others are saying. They can't remember why they went to the store and may get lost on the way home.
Because of this, they might crave routine and be afraid to try new experiences. Difficulty adapting to change is also a typical symptom of early dementia.
11. Poor judgment
Another consequence of cognitive decline is losing the ability to make good decisions. For instance, a person with dementia may be unable to recognize dangerous situations. They may try to walk across a busy street without waiting until it's safe or head outside wearing summer clothes when it's snowing.
Another hallmark of poor judgment with dementia is the inability to use good financial judgment. Someone who was previously careful with their money may start giving money away to people or causes they hardly know.
Forgetfulness and memory problems don't automatically point to dementia. Memory lapses are a natural part of aging and can also occur due to other factors, such as:
But if you or someone you know has dementia symptoms that aren't improving or are getting worse, talk with a doctor.
A doctor or healthcare professional will likely refer the person to a neurologist. A neurologist can examine you or your loved one's physical and mental health and determine whether the symptoms relate to dementia or some other issue. A neurologist may order:
Dementia is more common in people over the age of 65, but in some cases, it can also affect people in their 30s, 40s, or 50s.
With treatment and early diagnosis, you may be able to slow down the progression of dementia and maintain mental function for a longer period of time. The treatments may include:
If you're concerned about your forgetfulness and don't know of any neurologists, you can view doctors in your area through the Healthline FindCare tool.
At what age does dementia usually start?
Dementia is more common in people ages 65 and older. But in some cases, it can develop earlier.
What are the very early signs of dementia?
People in the early stages of dementia may have mood and personality changes. They may also have difficulties with short-term memory, such as forgetting things or events.
What is typically the most obvious early symptom of dementia?
One of the early symptoms of dementia that people tend to notice is short-term memory loss. This can involve forgetfulness, misplacing objects, and getting lost.
Dementia isn't one condition. Instead, it encompasses a number of different conditions that affect the brain. These conditions cause cognitive decline that affects a person's memory, communication abilities, thought patterns, and behavior.
It's not uncommon to hear the terms "dementia" and "Alzheimer's disease" used interchangeably. But they're not the same. While Alzheimer's disease causes the majority of dementia cases, many other disorders can affect a person's memory or ability to process information.
If you notice that you or a loved one is beginning to have trouble with some cognitive tasks, you can contact a doctor and ask for a consultation. In some cases, medical experts can recommend treatments to slow down the progression of the disease.
Early Signs And Symptoms Of Dementia - Everyday Health
David Weisman, MD, is the director of the Clinical Trial Center at Abington Neurological Associates in Pennsylvania, where he has conducted numerous clinical trials into mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease to develop disease-modifying drugs.
Dr. Weisman has dedicated his research career toward advancing new therapies for Alzheimer's disease, focusing on clinical trials for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, and other dementias, and he devotes his clinical practice to memory and cognitive problems.
He received a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Franklin and Marshall College, then an MD from Penn State College of Medicine. After an internship at St. Mary's Hospital in San Francisco, he completed his neurology residency at Yale, where he served as chief resident. He then went to the University California in San Diego for fellowship training in Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
Weisman has published papers and studies in journals such as Neurology, JAMA Neurology, Stroke, and The New England Journal of Medicine, among others.
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