Dementia is not one disease but rather a general term used to describe several disorders characterized by a progressive deterioration in memory, cognitive skills, and regularity in everyday activities. It is true that dementia is a common problem among elderly individuals; however, it is far from being a natural occurrence that comes along with aging.
According to the World Health Organization, dementia is one of the leading causes of disability and dependency among the global senior population. Millions of people suffer from dementia each year.
A gradual nature of the disease poses a serious challenge to timely detection. In the initial stage, changes in cognitive functions are often overlooked because of their mildness. They can easily be explained by fatigue, stress, and forgetfulness typical of old age. However, recognizing the early symptoms can significantly improve the quality of life of a patient.
Taking into account the latest findings in clinical practice and the recommendations of specialists in the medical field, here are the 10 earliest warning signs of dementia.
Memory loss impairing daily activities
Perhaps the most immediate warning sign is memory loss severe enough to interfere with everyday activities. This doesn’t involve forgetting things like where you left your car parked, but rather problems like:
Failure to recall recent conversations or significant occurrences
Repetition of questions
Reliance on post-it notes and families to keep track of minor details
As mentioned by The Alzheimer’s Association, forgetting short-term information tends to be one of the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia.
Difficulty planning and problem solving
At its onset, dementia could disrupt the executive functions of the brain that are responsible for managing activities. The symptoms include troubles with following a well-known recipe or set of instructions, tracking monthly payments or finances in general, remaining concentrated on tasks that the person has repeated many times.
The inability to manage and plan tasks indicates deterioration in the frontal and temporal regions of the brain.