10 Early Signs of Dementia You Shouldn’t Ignore

Key Takeaways

• Memory problems that affect daily life are different from normal forgetfulness
• Look for patterns; multiple signs getting worse over time matter more
• Personality and mood changes can be early warning signs, too
• Many conditions mimic dementia; only a doctor can check for treatable causes
• Difficulty understanding visual images and spatial relationships
• Early awareness gives you more time to plan and make decisions
• Keep notes on what you observe, which can help doctors see the full picture
• Having a conversation with a doctor is the first practical step forward

 

Identifying the early signs of dementia isn’t that easy for families. It arrives slowly like a flicker of confusion or sudden hesitation. In some cases, you might consider it an outcome of stress, fatigue, or a normal senior moment. However, somewhere deep inside, it’s something more serious, demanding professional memory care. 

Watching your loved one struggle with memory can be stressful and worrying. But when you know what are some early signs of dementia, there’s a better chance of winning. Besides, if you want to improve your loved one’s quality of life, finding the right dementia care facility is vital. 

To help you have a better understanding, here’s a list of 10 early signs of dementia. If interested, just continue reading!

The Spectrum of Memory Changes

Memory changes occur normally due to aging. However, there are scenarios where aging isn’t the only cause of cognitive decline. Below, we have discussed what type of memory changes are normal and what are not:

What’s Typically Normal Aging

• Forgetting someone’s name and remembering it later
• Occasionally misplacing glasses or keys
• Pausing for a moment to find the appropriate word to complete a sentence
• Missing a bill payment occasionally

What Raises a Red Flag

• Asking a similar question repeatedly 
• Unable to use the electronic devices, such as a TV remote
• Struggling to cook favorite recipes 
• Can’t find the way back home, even in a familiar neighborhood
• Unable to manage household budget

The 10 Early Signs of Dementia You Shouldn’t Ignore

Here are the early signs and symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s one should never overlook:

1. Memory Loss that Disrupts Daily Life

This is a sign that should raise concerns. Memory loss isn’t just about forgetting something; it’s about forgetting to live a normal life. Imagine your loved one asking the same question repeatedly, only to be surprised by the answer each time. 

Apart from this, when an elderly person starts missing bill payments or struggles to understand financial details, it’s a clear sign of dementia. These memory lapses aren’t minor indicators. Rather, they disrupt the complex process of remembering, planning, and executing.

Some other instances include:

• Missing appointments or social events 
• Unable to follow a familiar recipe 
• Forget the simple rules of a favorite card game

2. Difficulty Planning or Solving Problems

When problem-solving and planning become difficult, it’s an early sign of dementia. Since it goes beyond simple forgetfulness, it shouldn’t be ignored. Consider a person who has been preparing a particular recipe for years, but suddenly forgets the key steps. 

A retired accountant who was capable of managing complex financial portfolios is unable to write a simple check. Similarly, even simple calculations could feel overwhelming. Besides, the failure to think ahead or the inability to make decisions are among the early dementia symptoms.

3. Confusion with Time or Place

Occasionally, losing track of the date is somewhat normal. But when it’s more frequent and more serious, it becomes concerning. Confusion with place involves instances when some people forget when and how they arrived somewhere. 

Confusion about time can also be highly concerning. Your loved one might think it’s still summer when there are piles of snow outside on the ground. The timeline of a senior person usually becomes muddled. Therefore, confusion about time or place is among the early dementia signs.

4. Problems with Words and Communication

Sometimes we all have moments when we can’t find the right words. For instance, you might suddenly forget the name of a movie or actor. But after pausing for a few seconds, it comes back to you. This usually happens to everyone and is quite normal, too.

However, frequent forgetfulness of names or proper words can be an early symptom of dementia. When someone finds it difficult to participate in or continue a conversation, it might indicate cognitive decline. 

Some clear signs of communication issues include:

• Failure to complete a sentence
• Unable to convey what’s on my mind 
• Repeat the same story repeatedly during a conversation

5. Trouble Completing Familiar Tasks

Struggling with simple everyday tasks is among the first signs of dementia. For instance, your loved one suddenly forgets the route to a grocery store he/she has been visiting for years. A person might find it hard to navigate through the different sections of the grocery store.

In addition, household chores could also become surprisingly difficult. The person fails to set the washing machine correctly. When in the kitchen, your mom might leave the stove on without realizing the danger of doing so.

When you notice a loved one facing trouble with familiar tasks persistently, it’s worth paying attention. Occasionally, this may happen to everyone, but failure to follow one’s basic routine is among the very early signs of dementia.

6. Misplacing Things and Losing the Ability to Retrace Steps

Misplacing things is normal. Sometimes you put your keys somewhere and forget where you put them. You search for the sunglasses without realizing they are still on your head. Although frustrating, these moments are normal. In most cases, you remember where you left your belongings.

However, when it becomes frequent to misplace things, it might be one of the early warning signs of dementia​. If these things happen to your loved one, you should be concerned:

• Finding the TV remote in the fridge 
• The wallet appears from a sugar jar
• The phone was found in the laundry basket 

What truly separates this behavior from normal forgetfulness is the inability to find the lost things. Normally, you remember where you might have placed your belongings and can retrieve them. 

With dementia, this isn’t the case, as the person completely forgets what has happened. The mental map of where things belong just doesn’t exist anymore. If your loved one puts things in odd places and struggles to retrace them, this might be one of the symptoms of early dementia.

7. Decreased or Poor Judgment

Decision-making becomes difficult. Simple activities that used to be easy now feel overpowering.

This might look like:

• Making financial decisions that are exceptionally poor
• Falling for telemarketing tricks or obvious scams
• Wearing winter clothes during summer
• Walking outside at night without understanding the risks
• Buying useless things 
• Trusting strangers too easily 
• Forgetting to pay bills or paying the same bill multiple times

8. Withdrawal from Work or Social Activities

Withdrawal from social activities or losing interest in work are among the early signs of dementia in women and men. So, don’t consider it laziness or lack of interest. Usually, it’s a lack of mental energy or confidence that prevents a person from engaging socially. 

Here are a few examples of losing interest in one’s hobbies and withdrawal from social activities:

• The golfer loses interest in playing golf 
• A member stops visiting the book club
• Declining invitations to dinners, family gatherings, or celebrations
• Instead of joining conversations, sitting alone at family events
• No longer meeting friends or co-workers

9. Changes in Mood and Personality

Often, the early signs of dementia aren’t cognitive at all. Rather, the most prominent signs of early dementia are emotional. A person who was always calm suddenly becomes anxious or suspicious. 

• Increased anxiety or fear
• Seeming flat or emotionless
• Unusual sadness or depression
• Eating much less or much more than usual
• Withdrawal or apathy
• Confusion, distraction, or Frustration
• Having a shorter temper than usual
• Extreme mood swings

Personality shifts like these are quite heartbreaking for families. There’s a strong sense of losing a loved one. But when you know that these changes are the early signs of dementia in men and women, you can compassionately manage the mood or behavior.

10. Difficulty Understanding Visual Images and Spatial Relationships

When it comes to early signs of dementia tests, this particular sign often goes unnoticed. This is merely because family members assume it’s an eyesight problem. On the contrary, it’s not how your eyes see. In fact, it’s about how the brain perceives what the eyes are seeing. 

Here are some examples of what this problem might look like:

Reading Problems: These include having trouble following a line on the page, skipping words, or mixing up letters. The person often uses a finger to keep track of the lines or words. If these problems persist, the person might give up on reading books or newspapers.

Difficulty Judging Distance and Depth: Your loved one misses something while reaching for it. Knocking over cups or glasses or misjudge their location. The person might also stumble more often or face trouble parking a car.

Difficulty with Colors and Contrast: This is among the early signs of dementia, where a person isn’t able to distinguish between colors. It also involves wearing mismatched clothes or having trouble focusing on things with a busy background.

Driving Challenges: Can’t keep the car in its respective lane or misjudges turns. People with dementia frequently miss exits on the highway. They also find it hard to navigate through traffic or find parking.

Balance and Movement Problems: Feeling unsteady or walking with a wider stance. Usually, seniors hold onto walls or furniture for support. Some people also face difficulty going up or down stairs. Falling becomes a more frequent event. 

Everyday Challenges: These include bumping into furniture or doorways. Having trouble tying shoelaces or buttoning clothes. Due to a lack of eye and hand coordination, people with dementia often spill drinks or drop food. 

These problems usually show up in the daily lives of people suffering from dementia. They might seem uncoordinated or clumsy. These problems can affect the overall independence of a person. That’s why finding the right dementia care facility is so crucial to improving your loved one’s quality of life.

The Art of the Difficult Conversation

One of the most compassionate gifts you can give your loved ones is the courage to embrace reality. This starts with opening a difficult conversation. The question here is, how do you approach it without unleashing behaviors like fear, defensiveness, or shame?

Start with Love, Not Accusation

When talking with your parent about a change in their behavior or cognitive decline, start with a casual conversation. Make your loved ones believe that you just want to take good care of their health.

Document What You See 

Keep a record of unusual incidents, including dates and a brief context. You aren’t spying on your parent; you’re collecting key information to share with healthcare providers.

Frame the Doctor’s Visit as Routine

Schedule a check-up and frame it as a routine doctor’s visit. Avoid using terms like “memory care” or “memory test.” This is critical, as the goal here is to remove anxiety and pressure while still sharing relevant information with the doctor. 

Accompany with Compassion, Not Control

You can accompany your loved one to the doctor, but let them speak first. Afterward, you can provide your observations in a casual or subtle manner. The purpose is to accompany with compassion and not to overshadow the personality of your loved one.

Early Signs of Dementia Checklist

Once you know what are the signs and symptoms of early dementia, it’s easy for you to differentiate these signs from those of normal aging. You must pay attention to the pattern, frequency, or impact of dementia on daily life. 

A single moment of confusion doesn’t suggest that your loved one is suffering from dementia. To help you have a better understanding, here’s an early signs of dementia checklist:

Memory and Thinking

• Asking the same question repeatedly within a short time
• Forgetting important events, dates, or appointments
• Not remembering recent things that just happened 

Confusions about Time and Place

• Getting lost in familiar places
• Confusing the season, time of day, or year
• Forgetting how they got somewhere
• Not knowing what day or month it is

Daily Tasks and Problem-Solving

• Struggling with tasks that used to be easy 
• Finding it hard to learn new things or follow instructions 
• Having trouble managing money, bills, or a budget
• Taking much longer to perform simple tasks 

Misplacing Things

• Putting items in unusual places
• Inability to retrace steps to find lost items
• Accusing others of hiding or stealing things

Communication

• Struggling to find the right words while having a routine conversation
• Stopping mid-sentence or failure to continue
• Repeating the same story multiple times without realizing it
• Having trouble joining in or following on conversations

Mood and Personality

• Becoming suspicious, anxious, or fearful more often
• Getting easily upset, angry, or frustrated over small things
• Showing less interest in things they used to care about
• Feeling flat, depressed, or withdrawn

Judgment and Safety

• Falling for scams or making poor financial decisions
• Dressing inappropriately for the weather or occasion
• Forgetting to brush teeth, bathe, or change clothes
• Forgetting to turn off appliances, like leaving the stove on

Visual and Spatial Difficulties

• Having trouble following a line of text or reading a book 
• Misjudging distances, like missing something when trying to grab it
• Bumping into things, tripping, and stumbling are seen more often
• Difficulty driving, especially when parking or taking turns

Social Withdrawal

• Losing interest in social activities or hobbies they once loved
• Avoiding family gatherings, social events, or phone calls
• Spending more time alone 

Relying on this observation list for early signs of dementia can be extremely helpful. This allows you to distinguish normal signs of aging from those of dementia. When suspecting dementia, you can contact a doctor for further evaluation. Besides, if you want to delay cognitive decline, consider hiring a professional memory care service.

The Benefits of Early Recognition

Recognizing early signs of dementia isn’t about labeling someone. Instead, it’s about making necessary arrangements to improve your loved one’s life. For instance, you must have a clear idea of when to move a parent to memory care.

Here are the key benefits of early recognition: 

• Choosing engagement over ignorance
• Understanding the stages of dementia
• Helping the person transition from confusion to clarity
• Choosing the best compassionate care for dementia 

The first few signs that raise concerns should be taken seriously. A lingering hesitation can result in losing precious time. A dementia patient deserves your compassion and kindness, which allows them to move forward with courage.

When your loved one has received a diagnosis of dementia, it’s time to embrace the reality and choose not to ignore it. You should be prepared to act vigilantly and to accompany your loved one, regardless of the journey ahead.

Recognizing Early Signs of Dementia Can Make a Difference

Early signs of dementia are often mistaken for other signs of aging, like forgetfulness. The changes might feel subtle, but they aren’t easy to ignore. If your loved one is behaving weirdly, you should immediately know something is different.

Hiring a memory specialist or contacting a holistic senior care service can provide more than just a diagnosis. In fact, there are numerous benefits of memory care services, including tailored programs, variable treatment options, and compassionate support systems. 

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