Early Signs of Dementia Families Should Never Ignore

What to know

At Kourion Home Care, one of the most common questions families ask is how to recognize the early signs of dementia. The guidance below is based on information provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

It is common to experience changes in functioning as we get older, including some changes in memory. But dementia — which blocks a person's ability to remember, think clearly, or make daily decisions — is not a normal part of aging. Learning the common signs and symptoms of dementia, and how they differ from normal aging, helps families act sooner.

Dementia vs. normal aging

A recent survey revealed that nearly half of adults aged 40 and older think they will likely develop dementia. The truth is, dementia is not a normal part of aging. Many older adults live their entire lives without developing dementia.

Normal aging may include weakening muscles and bones, stiffening arteries and vessels, and some age-related memory changes. Normal age-related memory changes can include forgetting where you put your car keys sometimes, struggling to find a word but remembering it later, forgetting the name of an acquaintance, or forgetting the most recent events.

These subtle changes can be frustrating, but they should not affect your daily life. With normal aging, overall memory, thought, and brain functions stay intact — including knowledge and experiences gained over years, old memories, and language.

What to look out for

There are many types of dementia that cause problems remembering, thinking, or making daily decisions. Symptoms can vary widely from person to person. People with dementia have problems with one or more of these areas: memory; attention; communication; reasoning, judgment, and problem solving; and vision problems such as depth perception, processing visual cues, or recognizing objects.

Signs that may point to dementia include getting lost in a familiar neighborhood, using unusual words to refer to familiar objects, forgetting the name of a close family member or friend, forgetting old memories, and not being able to complete common tasks on your own.

See your health care provider if you notice any of these signs or symptoms. The sooner you can figure out what is causing these changes, the sooner you can work with your provider to get a diagnosis and determine next steps.

When to talk to your doctor

Talk to your health care provider to see if symptoms are related to dementia or a more treatable condition. Early and accurate diagnosis may help slow progression and alleviate some symptoms. It also allows you and your family to consider treatment options, financial planning, developing advance directives, enrolling in clinical trials, and anticipating care needs.