These 4 Things Could Be Early Dementia Signs

Dementia can be a devastating disease that becomes increasingly more likely as we age. According to experts, spotting early signs of dementia can be tricky and subtle.

"Dementia means that someone has a brain condition that impacts thinking to such an extent that they have difficulty performing day-to-day activities due to cognitive decline that they used to be able to perform," says Dr. Douglas Scharre, MD, director of the Division of Cognitive Neurology at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.

About six million individuals in the United States have dementia, and the number is expected to increase to 18 million by 2050, according to the World Health Organization.

"There are more than 100 types of dementia, but the most common are Alzheimer’s Disease, Vascular Dementia, Lewy Body Dementia, and Frontotemporal Dementia," says Tami Anastasia, MA, dementia consultant, educator, and speaker and author of Essential Strategies for the Dementia Caregiver: Learning to PACE Yourself. "Age is the primary risk factor in developing dementia. About 2 percent of people 65 to 69 have dementia, and 33 percent of people over 90 have dementia."

Related: What Not to Say to Someone With Dementia

According to Dr. Scharre, some of the most common symptoms of dementia can include:

• Visuospatial impairments: Decline in sense of direction, getting turned around in areas that should be fairly familiar, turning the wrong way coming out of a public or restaurant restroom, difficulty drawing a clock correctly, difficulty copying a cube.

• Orientation: forgetting the month or the year, or not close to the exact date.

• Personality: More disengaged, loss of insight into their decline in thinking, apathetic, irritable, depressed, or anxious.

Anastasia notes that early in dementia, the person may experience changes in their personality or mood, lack initiation and motivation, or withdraw from family and friends.

"They may have difficulty reading, writing, and communicating. They can ruminate or fixate on a situation and can’t be redirected," she says. "They are easily distracted, making it difficult to get them out of the house to be on time for an appointment. They may accuse or blame someone of withholding information because they don’t remember being told, or accuse someone of stealing or hiding things from them because they don’t remember where they put the items."

Related: Living a Healthy Lifestyle Could Reduce Your Dementia Risk

Early Signs of Dementia to Look Out For

While dementia may present itself in many ways in the early days, there are three main signs that may signify dementia.

"It’s important for people to know that the early signs of dementia are very subtle and progressively get worse over time," says Anastasia. "A person usually exhibits symptoms of dementia one to three years prior to getting a diagnosis. Initially, people downplay the behavior changes and symptoms and confuse them with normal aging."

Sign #1: Memory loss, increased confusion, and changes in thinking

"Common signs of memory loss include misplacing items more frequently; completely forgetting events, conversations, or appointments; repeating questions as if they never asked it before; and repeating stories as if they did not recall they already told you," says Dr. Scharre.

Adds Anastasia, "They may mix up dates, times, events and places, or they can’t follow directions for a recipe they’ve cooked for years."

Sign #2: Changes in personal hygiene and care

"Changes in personal hygiene and care may be a sign of dementia. These include: not bathing, washing clothes or hair, or brushing teeth. They forget to take their medication. They are unable to maintain their household," says Anastasia. "For example, you may notice piles of unopened mail and magazines stacking up. The refrigerator may be empty or contain a lot of expired food."

Sign #3: Executive impairments

"Signs of executive impairments include: decline in their usual functioning for planning ahead, organizing, problem-solving, figuring out how to make something work or using some technology they used to be able to do, and making rational or good decisions," says Dr. Scharre.

Adds Anastasia, "They may ask odd or bizarre questions that don’t make sense. They can’t keep track of their finances, become careless with money, and fall prey to scams."

Sign #4: Language impairments

Struggling to find words is also a major sign of dementia. "This includes more frequently hunting for words, and not recalling the exact name of objects," says Dr. Scharre.

Related: This Blood Type Is 82% More Likely to Develop Dementia

What to Do If You Notice These Signs

If you notice these signs in yourself or someone you love, it's time to go see your primary care provider.

"The provider can correlate the symptoms with their health history and decide if further evaluation, diagnostic testing, or a change in treatment is indicated," says Dr. Scharre.

You can also take the SAGE Test (Self-Administered Gerocognitive Examination) or an equivalent cognitive assessment to get a baseline, which you can then repeat every 6 months to look for changes over time.

Adds Anastasia, "To get a definitive diagnosis, ask to be referred to a neurologist, neuropsychologist, geriatrician, or geriatric psychiatrist so they can administer a battery of tests to determine if their loved one has dementia and what type of dementia. Early diagnosis provides an early treatment plan to help slow down the progression."

Next up: How to Help a Loved One With Dementia During COVID

Sources

• Dr. Douglas Scharre, MD, director of the Division of Cognitive Neurology at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center

• Tami Anastasia, MA, dementia consultant, educator, and speaker and  author of Essential Strategies for the Dementia Caregiver: Learning to PACE Yourself