Early Symptoms of Dementia or Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by symptoms of dementia ranging from forgetfulness to serious loss of mental abilities. By noticing these early symptoms of dementia, it is possible to slow down the symptoms and development of Alzheimer's.

Memory Loss

• Memory loss is the most common early symptom of dementia. Disrupted short-term memory is one of the first things noticed in dementia.

Confusion with Time and Place

• Everyone, at one time or another, forgets the date or a location. People with dementia might become lost in a place that should be familiar to them and might not know how to get home.

Language Problems

• Finding the right words to say can sometimes be a hard task for anyone. With dementia, thinking of the simplest words to use might become difficult, and using completely incorrect words is substituted.

Inability to Keep Track of Things

• Someone with dementia can find it hard to keep track of paying his bills. He might not be able to remember when a bill is due or whether he has already paid it.

Difficulty in Performing Tasks

• Dementia can cause someone to be unable to remember the steps in completing very familiar tasks, such as operating a washing machine or cooking a meal.

Decreased or Poor Judgment

• Someone with dementia could have changes in her judgment. Giving out unusually large amounts of money is one example.