What Are the Early Signs of Dementia?

Confusion, memory loss, and personality changes top the list of early signs of dementia, an umbrella term for several brain disorders that can interfere with the ability to live independently. Dementia is often permanent or progressive, but in some cases, the signs and symptoms may be treatable. This makes early detection of cognitive decline crucial. Here are a few signs that belong on any observation list.

Signs and Symptoms of Dementia

The list of signs and symptoms associated with dementia is long. Many overlap with other health conditions, though, so having some of them does not confirm cognitive impairment. Nevertheless, don’t hesitate to consult a healthcare provider if you notice these cognitive and psychological signs of dementia:

• Trouble remembering new information
• Confusion, particularly related to time or place
• Disorientation
• Changes in mood or personality 
• Irritation
• Depression and withdrawal
• Trouble problem-solving
• Trouble completing tasks
• Trouble organizing
• Increased anxiety
• Trouble communicating verbally or in writing
• Uncoordination 
• Tendency to get lost, especially on the way to familiar places
• Routine misplacement of commonly used items
• Signs of paranoia
• Poor judgment

Not everyone notices these symptoms right away, and a checklist alone can’t diagnose a dementia-related disorder. Not even a test can do so.

Diagnosis

To make a diagnosis, a physician such as a neurologist, geriatrician, or mental health professional completes a comprehensive evaluation that includes a physical exam, medical history review, blood tests, and assessments related to behavior and overall functionality.

Common Types of Dementia

Despite popular belief, dementia can affect people of all ages. It all depends on the cause and type.

Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause worldwide, implicated in 60% to 70% of dementia-related diagnoses.

Although increased age heightens the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, 3 to 5 million people living with the disease are younger than age 65. These individuals have what's known as early-onset Alzheimer's or younger-onset Alzheimer's.

One of the first signs people with Alzheimer's disease (early-onset or otherwise) report is trouble recalling information they've recently learned. This occurs because Alzheimer's compromises part of the brain involved in learning processes.

Unfortunately, Alzheimer's is a progressive condition, meaning symptoms will worsen over time, but medical treatment can help manage them.  

Frontotemporal Dementia

With frontotemporal dementia, nerve cells in the parts of the brain involved in behavior, communication, and personality begin to degenerate. Thus, people with this condition typically have symptoms that impact their behavior, reasoning, communication, and/or movement. 

Lewy Body Dementia

In Lewy body dementia, wads of protein accumulate in the brain. These proteins can also be found in patients with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. People with this form of dementia might hallucinate, have trouble concentrating, or experience physical coordination and movement difficulties.

Vascular Dementia

Vascular dementia is second only to Alzheimer's in its prevalence in people with dementia. It occurs due to problems with the blood vessels that involve the brain. While people with this form of dementia may have difficulty recalling, their most obvious symptoms are likely to be trouble with organization, reasoning, concentration, and thinking quickly.  

Conditions Linked to Dementia

Several other medical conditions have been implicated in dementia diagnoses. They include (the previously mentioned) traumatic brain injury and Parkinson's disease as well as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and Huntington's disease. People with these disorders have dementia-like symptoms or develop a form of dementia. 

Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury, which develops after repeat head trauma, is common in athletes who have played aggressive contact sports such as football, rugby, or boxing, but these injuries can also occur in sports such as volleyball, cheerleading, or water polo. If certain parts of the brain are injured, dementia may subsequently develop.

Symptoms of traumatic brain injury include memory loss, difficulty communicating, depression, and rage.

Parkinson's Disease

It is also possible for symptoms related to Parkinson’s disease, caused by nerve cell damage in the brain, to form. People with Parkinson’s often suffer from tremors, move slowly, and have trouble with balance and coordination. It is common for people with Parkinson’s to experience dementia symptoms.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is a heritable disease characterized by the accumulation of proteins known as prions. It is a fatal condition that occurs very rarely. In addition to genetic predisposition, this illness can develop after exposure to infected nervous system tissue during a transplant.

In cattle, it is widely known as mad cow disease, which humans can contract from eating contaminated meat. Signs include confusion, disorientation, depression, coordination problems, and difficulty speaking and concentrating. 

Huntington's Disease

Huntington's disease is an inherited disorder in which nerve cells in the brain deteriorate. Symptoms include forgetfulness, depression, difficulty communicating, and difficulty with physical movement. This condition typically appears in one’s 30s or 40s.

Preventing Cognitive Decline

Many causes of dementia are genetic, and the likelihood of exhibiting signs increases with age. However, experts still recommend that people do what they can to reduce the odds of experiencing symptoms.

Abstaining from excessive drinking and smoking (in any quantity), managing conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, eating well, and exercising are among many steps you can take to stay on top of your cognitive health.