The brain naturally deteriorates as you age, but this deterioration happens faster in individuals with dementia. Dementia occurs once the nerve cells in a person’s brain stop functioning. This condition can affect one’s cognitive function, including the ability to remember, reason, and think.
Unfortunately,dementia Falls Church is hard to diagnose because it causes subtle symptoms in the early stages, and these symptoms vary from one individual to another. Nevertheless, there are still some common early warning signs you should watch out for.
Continue reading to learn more.
1. Short-Term Memory Changes
Experiencing memory problems is an early symptom of dementia. The changes are frequently subtle and involve short-term memory. For instance, an individual with dementia can remember events that transpired years ago, but may forget what they took for breakfast. One may also experience short-term memory issues, such as missing where they placed items, forgetting their schedule, and more.
2. Problems Finding the Correct Words
Another early sign of dementia is problems communicating your thoughts. An individual with dementia may experience a hard time explaining something or expressing themselves. Furthermore, one may abruptly discontinue communication. Thus, chatting with a person with dementia can be hard, and it might take abnormally long for them to express their feelings or thoughts.
3. Mood Changes
Mood changes are also common with dementia. If you have dementia, it might be hard to identify these changes yourself, but you might notice them in somebody else. For instance, depression is prevalent in dementia’s early stages.
A person with dementia might also seem more anxious or fearful than they were before. Moreover, one might easily become upset if they experience disruptions in their everyday routine or find themselves in unfamiliar circumstances. A personality change is also common, where one goes from being quiet or shy to being outgoing.
4. Repetition
Repetition is prevalent in individuals with dementia because of memory loss and general behavioral changes. One might repeat everyday tasks like bathing or shaving, or they might obsessively collect items. Besides, a person with dementia might repeat the same questions in a conversation or tell one story severally.
5. Poor Judgment
Another impact of cognitive decline is the inability to make sound decisions. For example, an individual with dementia might fail to identify dangerous situations. One might attempt to cross a busy street without watching whether it is safe or not, or go outdoors in winter clothes during the hot summer sun.
Another telltale sign of poor judgment with dementia is poor money management. Somebody previously careful with money might not begin giving it to people or causes they hardly know about.
6. Difficulty Adapting to Change
For somebody in the early dementia stages, the experience may cause fear. Suddenly, you cannot remember people you used to know or follow through with a conversation. One might even forget their way home. As such, dementia patients love following a consistent routine and fear trying new experiences.
Forgetfulness and memory issues do not automatically signify dementia. Memory lapses are a typical element of aging and could also happen because of other factors like lack of concentration, multitasking, and fatigue. Nonetheless, do not overlook the symptoms.
If you or somebody you know has one or more warning signs of dementia that are not improving and gradually worsening, consult a specialist. Although there is no treatment for some forms of dementia, your provider can discuss ways to manage the symptoms or slow the condition’s progression.
