10 Signs and Symptoms of Dementia

Due to losing cells in parts of the brain, sudden changes in mood and personality may occur. These symptoms can present as irritability or loss of interest, agitation or apathy. Your loved one may become devoid of emotion or become overemotional and they may even have unrealistic beliefs about their own abilities.

In the early stages of dementia, a person may become apathetic because they are aware and understand what is happening to them. Certain tasks may have become difficult for them to complete and they may be trying to avoid embarrassment or high-anxiety situations.

A person in the early stages of dementia may begin making poor life choices such as frivolous spending, dressing improperly for weather conditions, or being able to decide what situations may be safe or unsafe. As dementia progresses, it will become increasingly difficult for your loved one to make even the simplest decisions.

A person who has dementia may hide, store, hoard, and/or lose items frequently. This can make your life harder, but it also makes it harder for your loved one as well. It may distress them because they can’t find what they are looking for. They could also be hiding and hoarding things because it gives them a sense of control over their own situation.

Many types of dementia and early stage Alzheimer’s can affect depth perception. This can increase the risk of falls even while doing normal daily activities such as getting in or out of a bathtub or putting on clothes. With progression of dementia these symptoms can also include the inability to recognize familiar faces or find objects in plain sight.

Caused by the progressive damage to brain cells, in the early stages of dementia forgetfulness may present as short-term memory loss. Your loved one may become confused about the passage of time and/or unfamiliar surroundings. Certain situations— such as a sudden change in living arrangements—can make these symptoms worse.

A dementia patient’s speech may become confused and they can develop a symptom called aphasia. This means that they can lose the ability to speak and to understand speech. It makes it harder for the patient to remember the right words or to follow along with what others are saying to them.

Although it may seem like a regular symptom of aging, dementia also causes a lack of planning and problem-solving skills. Dementia patients may struggle to concentrate for longer periods of time and familiar tasks become impossible. They can struggle with things like following or making plans or tasks like making a grocery list.

Dementia causes difficulties in carrying out tasks that may have once been familiar. Your loved one may take longer to finish tasks and have problems doing things in the proper sequence, such as putting on clothes. Common activities like playing a favorite game, balance a check book, or getting to a familiar location will become harder and harder.

Dementia—at any stage—causes disorientation which leads to wandering. Approximately 60 percent of people with dementia have a tendency to walk off and become lost repeatedly. This can be due to boredom, fear, confusion, stress, and the inability to recognize a familiar place or person.