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Health > Your Health > Mental Health > Ten early signs of dementia

Ten early signs of dementia

25th Oct 2011

10 comments

How do you know if memory loss and confusion are just signs of getting older or are the first indicators that something more sinister is afoot? Knowing the warning signs will help you get the timely support you need.

The first symptoms and warning signs of dementia can be subtle and often people mistake them for normal signs of ageing. Common symptoms such as problems with your memory, especially about recent events, confusion, a change in personality or feeling apathetic towards something you used to enjoy can be an indicator that something is wrong. If you experience several of the warning signs below it’s time to consult your doctor.

1. Short-term memory loss which inhibits you from doing day-to-day tasks.
Forgetting what you went upstairs to get or what bus takes you in to town, only to remember soon after, happens to us all. Those suffering from dementia may experience forgetfulness more frequently and never remember.

2. Difficulties doing day-to-day tasks.
It’s easy to get distracted and forget to read the paper or put the bins out, but someone with dementia may forget that they have had the paper delivered or that the bins need to go out at all.

3. Not finding the right words.
We all get a little tongue-tied or forget what we were about to say. However, those with dementia may substitute inappropriate words or forget simple words.

4. Not knowing where you are or what day of the week it is.
A momentary lapse in forgetting which day of the week it is, is not something to be concerned about, but if you become lost in familiar surroundings or are confused about the month and year, this is more serious.

5. Hindered judgement.
If being able to judge the speed of traffic or distance of oncoming cars while driving is becoming more difficult, then this may be a sign that memory and concentration is affected.

Click Next on the right to view the other five signs of dementia

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gothecow
25th Oct 2011
5:04pm

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Roy
25th Oct 2011
6:00pm

Umm, forgotten what I was going to say, is that a sign of that whatsiname disease, inertia or something?

Tathra
26th Oct 2011
7:52am

I know you are trying to make light of this terrible condition Roy but for some of us there is no light. My late father had 2 sister, both died from Alzheimers, their mother went "funny" just like her mother according to a family get together I attended when around 15, I`m 64 now almost 65 so I`m going back a long way in this inatance. On my late mothers side she had an aunt who went "funny" and then in the 90`s she lost a sister diagnosed with Alzheimers and the only living sibling she has, also a sister, is in the latter stages of this same insidious disease. Late last year I actually made an appointment to see a specialist to see if there was any testing or anything that I can do that will help me not get this. My family all live interstae and I live alone so it is quite frightening but the tests showed at this time I`m OK but it still scares me.

nannypat258
26th Oct 2011
8:27am

My father had Alzheimer's , his mother died of dementia. My doctor said there is a gene that can be inherited. He said to keep the disease away to 'use it or lose it' - wake up the other 90% of the brain that is not being used. So I do - I read, do crosswords, games on the computer and study at TAFE. I am 68 and determined not to travel the same road my father did.

chippies
27th Dec 2011
12:48pm

KEEP POSITIVE TATHRA AND FIGHT IT I;M SURE THIS WILL GO A LONG WAY IN KEEPING IT AT BAY. AS NANNYPAT258 SAYS KEEP YOUR BRAIN AS ACTIVE AS POSSIBLE. DONT ALLOW YOURSELF TO BECOME DEPRESSED OVER IT GOOD LUCK.

supa2
27th Dec 2011
1:42pm

Thankyou for the insights into Altzheimers I find the thing for the general public is that they have trouble understanding the difference between Dementia and Altzheimers. My mum had Dementia and it is true that keeping our brain active must help to a degree also I find that the use of some drugs do seem to add to the problem e.g. Warfarin. My husband has been taking Warfarin now for nearly 12months now and I notice he is having trouble remembering things, getting frustrated and annoyed a lot more easily with little things.Our doctor does not seem too concerned with this but my husband is seriously thinking of stopping the medication all together.

Jicjoc
27th Dec 2011
9:14pm

It's all very well to say keep yourself mentally alert but this does not protect you from the disease. My mother read the newspaper front to back, loved quiz shows, completed the Quick & the Cryptic crosswords, played bridge, read avidly & travelled but still it took hold of her mind. Terry Pratchett who is a clever, talented & prolific author is slowly "losing his mind". As yet, there is nothing guaranteed to work, unfortunately.

Busybee
13th Feb 2012
11:21pm

What is the difference between dementia and altzheimers. my brother 75 years old had a 5 hour operation and came out of it with dementia.

Jolo
14th May 2012
11:26pm

Warning - the above 10 signs are not always dementia - they can be a sign of something more sinister. My 80yr old husband began to show all of the above mentioned 10 signs, it progressed over 3 weeks, til he was rushed to hospital by ambulance. He was suffering with a potentially fatal MRSA Staph infection, (golden staph) which had affected all his organs and his brain, he spent 24 days in hospital. The final telling sign that it was not dementia was that although he did not feel hot he had a temperature of 40.4 degrees.
So if your loved one is showing signs of what you think are dementia - please constantly check their temperature and call your doctor or an ambulance.
This prompt action, and the excellent treatment by a Microbiologist specialist, saved my husband's life.

AlbertC
17th May 2012
6:24am

my mother died from dementure 11yrs ago all her sisters went the same way except 1 who died of taberculosis, i am now 69 and starting to forget things i had a quick memory test done 6 mths ago at the doctors it came out ok. some times when you have several things on youre mind you tend to do things slightly differint especialy when you are doing things around the home i say give it some thought and maybe slow down instead of rushing it. as i found out when busy i tend to put my glasses down whilst at the same time thinking of the next thing i need to do then forget where i put my glasses so i stop and backtrack and find my glasses the same when drinking your cuppa you put it down then low and behold your cuppa has disapeared from where you swear black and blue you had put it somewhere else so before i forget have a nice day .

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Tags: dementia, australia, seniors, disease, common, ageing, facts, health, warning signs

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