Warning Signs of Dementia You Should Know

When you notice that a loved one doesn’t recognize familiar faces and places or they display odd behavioral changes, don’t write it off as aging. These are the warning signs of dementia.

You should know that not all dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, and not all types of dementia are irreversible. The Mayo Clinic explains that while Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, some types of dementia may be the result of a reaction to a medication, a nutritional deficiency, an infection, or even a brain tumor. Regardless, if you recognize any of these signs in your loved one, seek medical advice immediately.

Memory Loss That Interferes With Daily Living

Many people experience slight lapses of memory as they age, such as “where are my glasses?” or “what day of the week is it again?” But memory problems that make it difficult to get through an ordinary day are warning signs of dementia.

When an accomplished cook can’t follow a recipe or an avid bridge player forgets the rules of the game, seek medical advice. Disorientation, such as being unable to find the way home after a regular walk or getting lost driving to a weekly appointment, is also cause for concern.

Once this happens, this trustworthy dentist in Woodbridge highly suggests accompanying them to regular dental checkups to minimize the possibility of extensive procedures later on, when the patient may be less able to tolerate them.

Trouble With Words

It’s not uncommon to have trouble finding the right word occasionally or to forget a name. But if someone refers to a table as a dog or a shoe as a glove, there could be a neurological problem that signals the start of dementia. If your loved one is having difficulty stringing words together into a coherent sentence, seek medical help.

Poor Judgment

When a person who ordinarily is meticulous about their appearance looks unkempt or dresses inappropriately (heavy coats on sweltering days, sleeveless dresses in the dead of winter), it’s not just eccentricity. It’s a sign of developing dementia that’s affecting judgment and perception.

If your loved one is buying multiples of things they already have (cans of soup, undergarments) or has given up on paying their bills because they can’t figure out how to write a check, the onset of dementia may be the cause.

Withdrawal

Dementia can make it difficult to follow a conversation, participate in a game, or follow a story on television or in a novel. When a normally gregarious person begins to avoid social activity or conversation, ask why they don’t want to participate anymore. Be ready for denial or resistance but don’t give up, and if your loved one continues to withdraw from normal activities, contact a doctor.

Personality Changes

People with dementia can become overly suspicious, even paranoid. A formerly easygoing person may become excessively and easily irritated. Any unfamiliar place or new person could make them anxious.

Seek a medical assessment if you notice a few of these signs of dementia. As a caregiver, it’s essential to ask for help and learn ways to help your loved one cope with dementia. Your task now is to maintain your loved one’s quality of life and to modify your expectations of the future without diminishing your love for them.