Warning Signs of Dementia

Dementia is a condition that causes the loss of many mental functions such as reasoning, memory and thinking. It's often very severe and can completely change a person's life and the way he or she interacts with the world. Dementia is a symptom that can be caused by many diseases including Alzheimer's, severe depression and substance abuse. While dementia cannot be cured, there are numerous treatments available to manage the symptoms. Early detection is important, however, so becoming aware of the various warning signs is vital to successful treatment.

Memory Loss

• Memory loss is the first and most prevalent sign of dementia. It typically involves forgetting things that happened just a little while ago. The difference between dementia and just normal forgetfulness is the latter usually involves you remembering the forgotten bit of information later on. People with dementia forget recent memories and never get them back.

Linguistic Problems

• Some people with dementia will have trouble with speaking and language. They might forget words they used to know or instead employ the wrong words in the wrong contexts. Patients with dementia often find it hard to communicate in the first place, so compounding the problem with language difficulties can make them feel even more closed off from those around them.

Daily Functions Are Impaired

• Performing everyday functions can be difficult for a person with dementia. Putting away laundry could become impossible because they've forgotten how to fold clothes, or they might forget that they've already completed a task. Misplacing items is also common. Putting the telephone in the refrigerator and other similar misplacing of objects is a sure fire warning that something may be wrong.

Disorientation

• Many times, those with dementia find themselves getting lost in areas that they used to be familiar with. They might forget how to navigate the supermarket or how to get home. Time can become jumbled as well, so a person might not even realize they left their house and got to a certain location, making it difficult to get back home once they got there.

Drastic Personality Changes

• People with dementia can exhibit numerous emotional changes. For instance, the patient's mood can change dramatically in a short period of time. He or she can appear calm one moment and angry the next. Irritability and suspicion are also common personality traits that can exhibit themselves when they were previously not present.

Impaired Judgment

• Those with dementia typically show poor judgment when it comes to decision-making. Dementia patients can forget even the simplest things, causing them to make bad decisions that can put them in a position of discomfort or even danger.