Dementia is not a single disease, but a broad term that encompasses a series of symptoms. The symptoms not only impact your ability to think, process information, and communicate with others. According to estimates by the WHO, nearly 55 million people suffer from dementia globally, and every year, close to 10 million cases is diagnosed globally. Alzheimer’s disease is one of the common causes of dementia, but it is not the only one.
The symptoms of dementia may vary due to the underlying cause, but some key symptoms ring the warning bells for the condition.
The warning signs of dementia
Having issues with memory loss is not the only cause of dementia. You have to be diagnosed with a couple of impairments of dementia and they need to interfere with your daily life to be diagnosed with dementia. Rather than issues with memory, people with dementia may have impairments that may affect their
- Communication
- focus
- Reasoning along with problem-solving skills
- Language skills
Depending upon the causes, it is better to enrol in the top dementia care centre in Kerala. Some people fail to take notice of the symptoms that something is wrong with them. Normally, they make mistakes and consider it part of the ageing process. The symptoms may develop gradually and go unnoticed for a certain period of time. Some of the people even refuse to act, acknowledging the fact that something is wrong.
1. Short-term, subtle memory changes
Having issues with dementia can point to an early symptom of dementia. Such changes are often subtle and point to short-term memory loss. A person suffering from dementia may be able to recollect what happened a few years ago, but forget to have breakfast. Other changes will emerge in short-term memory.
- failing to recollect when they entered a particular room
- Forgetting to remember where they placed an item
- Forgetting what they were supposed to do on a particular day
2. Facing difficulty locating the correct words
A major issue with dementia is communication of your thoughts. People suffering from dementia face difficulty expressing their thoughts or choosing the correct words. They may also stop in the middle of a sentence and not know how to continue.
Interacting with a person suffering from dementia can be a challenge, as it may take a longer period of time to express their feelings and thoughts.
3. Mood swings
Mood swings are a common occurrence with dementia. If you are suffering from dementia, you may not notice these changes, but someone else may witness them in you. Depression is at the pretty nave stage of dementia.
Someone who is suffering from dementia may be a lot more anxious than before. They could be upset if they find themselves in unfamiliar situations or if their daily routine is changed. It is not only about mood changes, but also changes in their personality. Attending regular counselling sessions for dementia helps an individual gauge changes in their personality.
4. Apathy
Apathy is one of the early signs of dementia. It is a common occurrence that a person who is suffering from dementia may lose interest in hobbies or activities that they used to enjoy at one point of time. In addition, they may lose interest in spending time with their friends and family and could become emotionally flat.
5. Difficulty in completing tasks
A sudden shift in the ability to communicate tasks is another warning sign of dementia. The process usually starts with the difficulty of doing complex tasks like
- Keeping track of the bills
- Playing a game where there are a lot of rules
- Balancing a check book
There is a struggle to complete these tasks. A person suffering from dementia could also fail to comply with new rules or struggle.
6. Confusion
In the early stages of dementia, someone may become confused. They are going to face difficulty in recollecting the month, year, or understanding where they stand currently.
The causes of the confusion could be numerous and applicable in a variety of situations .Examples could be that they may misplace their car keys or forget to remember someone they met recently.
In a nutshell the early signs of dementia are subtle and it is not possible to detect them easily