Early Signs of Cognitive Decline
November 16, 2023 | Assisted Living, Health & Wellness, Resources
November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, honoring the resilient individuals living with the disease as well as the supportive family members and caregivers. Over six million Americans live with this specific disease, and one in three seniors die with it or some other form of dementia.
Early detection of Alzheimer’s and other dementias can make a huge impact on the quality of life for everyone touched by it. Timely diagnosis means the opportunity to build a care team, manage medications including enrolling in clinical trials, receiving support services like counseling, and addressing concerns. It can also lower long-term healthcare costs.
So, what are the early symptoms of dementia that may mean testing is needed? Here are five.
- Forgetting names or dates on occasion is to be expected, but struggling to remember and do daily activities is not. For example, having trouble driving to a familiar location or following directions for a loved recipe. In particular, not being able to recall recently learned information is one of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s.
- Problems with communication are another key indicator. People with dementia will often struggle to follow along in a conversation. They will also tend to repeat things over and over, whether it’s a story or a question. While we all forget the word for something, a person with dementia will have trouble naming a specific object.
- How many times have we misplaced keys? To find them, we retrace steps and consider where they might be. Losing items and the ability to problem-solve could suggest dementia. Those with dementia may store items in unusual places (like car keys in the freezer) or not be able to figure things out. Concentration may be more difficult, and it may take more time to do routine tasks.
- Confusion is one of the most widely known symptoms, thanks to TV and movie portrayals. If a person cannot recall who they are or how they got to where they are, that is a red flag. Similarly, trouble understanding something that is not happening in the current moment is a warning. Dementia can also impact vision, which can cause balance issues or a decline in judging distances and colors.
- Unexplained mood and personality changes—especially acting suspicious, fearful, anxious, or depressed—are another symptom of dementia. More than simply not feeling social, people living with dementia may withdraw from activities that brought them joy; keeping up with their favorite sports team or hobby, for instance, may no longer interest them. Research suggests that apathy may be a sign that someone is progressing from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s disease.
The idea of a dementia diagnosis can be very scary. Finding out sooner rather than later won’t change the disease, but it may change its progression. And it can make it easier to create a caring community for the person and those who love them.
Kline Galland is devoted to providing compassionate Memory Care for those facing the difficulties of Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia
