Look Out for These 9 Warning Signs of Dementia

1. Memory Loss That Impacts Daily Life

As we age, some degree of memory loss is normal. Perhaps your loved one can’t remember the name of an old friend, or they forget a child’s phone number, only to recall the information at a later date. This type of forgetfulness is, in most cases, not a sign of something worse.

However, a person with dementia will often forget pertinent information that impacts their day-to-day abilities. This could include forgetting information such as:

• One’s home address
• Directions to the grocery store
• Names of loved ones

2. Frequently Misplacing Items

Occasionally losing or misplacing things such as keys, wallets, and other small objects is not necessarily a sign of dementia. After all, people of any age do this to varying degrees. However, if a loved one frequently misplaces their keys, wallet, or other important items, this may be a sign of dementia.

Pay careful attention if your loved one is:

• Placing personal items in strange or hidden places
• Being unable to find something they regularly use
• Throwing important documents or items away

3. Confusion With Time and Place

If your loved one consistently forgets the days of the week, time of year, or cannot keep track of dates, it may be a sign of dementia. A doctor’s visit can provide memory tests to determine how serious the symptoms are.

Time-shifting, when a person thinks they are living at an earlier time in their life, frequently occurs in those with dementia. A common sign of time-shifting is when someone continues referencing deceased people as if they were still alive.

4. Trouble With Familiar Tasks or Hobbies

It’s normal to experience some trouble with precise tasks and activities as we age. For example, many football stars and rock climbers have to find more accommodating hobbies as they enter their later years. However, if your loved one finds themselves confused by, or unable to perform, familiar tasks and hobbies, it may indicate something more serious.

This might look like:

• Someone who previously enjoyed cooking no longer cooks
• An avid walker now spends most of their time on the couch
• A bookworm no longer reads and instead opts to watch TV

Often, the confusion and mental strain that accompany dementia make it more difficult to partake in once-beloved hobbies, causing many people to stop doing things that used to make them happy.

5. Issues With Language

For many, dementia impacts one’s ability to comprehend and utilize language. Pay attention if you notice the following in your loved one:

• Asking the same question multiple times during a conversation
• Disengagement or “spacing out” while speaking with others
• Inability to follow a conversation you are in

6. Stark Changes in Mood and Behavior

Feelings like sadness, anger, and confusion are natural. Feelings of depression and isolation are also common in older adults, for a variety of reasons. Possible dementia patients can experience extreme and sudden swings in moods due to confusion and discomfort. Signs of serious depression include:

• Loss of interest or apathy toward social events/hobbies
• Lack of energy
• Loss of appetite
• Problems sleeping, resulting in increased confusion

7. Faulty Judgment

A key sign in both Alzheimer’s and dementia is affected judgment, which can precede memory loss or eventually more serious damage to the frontal lobe. Signs of serious lapses in judgment could include:

• Gullibility or trouble related to scams or financial troubles
• Wearing inappropriate clothing for the season or occasion
• A noticeable lack of personal hygiene

As with many of the signs on this list, you’ll want to pay attention to stark changes in your loved one. While some people are inherently more financially responsible, it’s definitely a red flag when a fiscally prudent parent begins taking out risky loans or making large purchases that would normally be out of character.

Where to Find Help

The long-term, progressive effects of dementia and Alzheimer’s can be overwhelming, but it’s important to remember that there is help available. If you are concerned about your loved one, it is essential to seek help as soon as possible.

Your first step should be to learn all you can about dementia. For starters, we recommend the following guides:

• Alzheimer’s Society Learning Hub
• What to Do After a Dementia Diagnosis
• Dementia Life Expectancy Calculator