What are the early signs of dementia?
Early signs of dementia go beyond ordinary forgetfulness: memory loss that disrupts daily life, trouble planning or solving problems, difficulty with familiar tasks, confusion about time or place, new problems with words, misplacing things, and changes in judgment or mood. If several appear and get worse, see a doctor.
Dementia usually begins quietly, and the early signs are easy to explain away. What sets them apart from normal aging is that they disrupt daily life and slowly get worse. The Alzheimer's Association groups the common early warning signs like this.
Common early signs
- Memory loss that disrupts daily life, especially forgetting recently learned information, or asking the same question again and again.
- Trouble planning or solving problems, like following a recipe or keeping track of bills.
- Difficulty with familiar tasks, such as driving a known route or managing a household appliance.
- Confusion with time or place, losing track of dates, seasons, or how they got somewhere.
- New problems with words, struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word.
- Misplacing things and being unable to retrace steps, sometimes accusing others of taking them.
- Poorer judgment, and withdrawal from work or social life.
- Changes in mood or personality, such as becoming confused, suspicious, or anxious.
What to do
One of these on its own is often nothing. What matters is several appearing together and worsening over time. If that is what you are noticing in yourself or someone you love, see a doctor. An early assessment can find treatable causes, and if it is dementia, an early diagnosis opens up more time to plan and more treatment options.
This is general information, not medical advice. Every situation is different, so talk to a doctor about yours.