Dementia is umbrella term for memory loss disorders. It is the damage or loss of nerve cells in the brain which causes cognitive impairments, affecting one’s language, memory and thinking. There are different types of dementia defined by what nerve cells are affected within the brain; Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia, but other sub-types includes: Lewy-body dementia, vascular dementia, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s.
Dementia is a debilitating illness, so whether you’re concerned for yourself, a family member, or a friend, it is important to know the early warning signs of dementia. Here are the most common warning signs.
- Language problems. Such as repeating words, struggling to find the right words, difficulty following conversation.
- Personality changes. Such as withdrawal in social situations, hobbies or any other engagement. They may experience mood changes (depressive or anxiety-related symptoms)
- Memory loss which affects daily abilities. Everyone forgets things time to times but people struggling with dementia often forget important dates or events. They may start asking friends or family members for memory aids for events which they used to remember on their own
- Visual and spatial disorientation. This can be interpreted through difficulty in balancing or reading. Dementia sufferers may have problems judging distance and colour.
- Losing or misplacing things. A person living with dementia may put things in unusual places and then forget where they had put it. They may also struggle to retrace their steps. In advanced progression of the disease, suffers may accuse others of stealing their misplaced items.
- Difficulty completing normal routine tasks. People with dementia find it hard to complete their normal routine such as driving to a familiar location
- Communication impairment. Such as repeating words, struggling to find the right words. These are all common in people living with dementia. they may struggle with naming a familiar object and stop mid-flow of a normal daily conversation
What should I do?
If these symptoms sound familiar, it may be difficult to know what to do. Voicing your worries to other people close to you may help you may a more informed decision on what is the next best step to take.
Dementia is a serious and debilitating condition and so serious health concerns should be evaluated with a healthcare professional where appropriate judgement and suitable treatment can be discussed further.
