There are a lot of different early signs of dementia for people to look out for. This is important because early symptoms can help to identify the problem much sooner, so that treatments can be put in place and so that care can be focused on what is really at risk. The first thing to bear in mind is that different types of dementia will manifest in different ways. It is sometimes hard for people to diagnose the condition simply because it is different in how the body functions. However, by paying close attention to the early symptoms of dementia, people can work towards getting a diagnosis much quicker.
There are 10 common early signs of dementia that a person may find useful to be aware of. The signs will vary in severity from one person to another, but they are important to note, nonetheless. For a normal person to get a diagnosis, they would likely experience at least two of these indicators, and each of these signs would normally be serious enough to disrupt their daily routine to some degree.
One of the most common signs is confusion. The person may become disoriented and seem as if they do not know where they are or why they are there. They may also show signs of fainting or even memory loss. Another early sign of confusion may involve a person getting uncomfortably tired and then suddenly becoming unable to sleep.
Another sign of confusion is difficulty concentrating. This may be quite mild in the beginning and may develop into a significant problem later. In some cases, the person may become so distracted that they find it difficult to concentrate on simple tasks such as reading a book or answering a few questions. Clumsiness is one of the main early signs of dementia, especially because slurred speech and poor grammar are generally associated with this condition. Another sign of confusion that is often associated with this condition is that the person may have trouble remembering things.
Another one of the early signs of dementia is a noticeable change in the pattern of sleep that is being experienced. This may consist of sleeping more or less than usual. The person may also have trouble falling asleep at all. There may also be other signs like frequent urination and bowel movements or excessive crying spells that are obvious.
Another one of the early signs of dementia that tends to be overlooked is changes in speech. The person may tend to use much longer words and phrases, as well as talk in lower tones. Other signs of dementia that are usually noticed when the person is a patient in an elderly home include problems with speech and the inability to properly pronounce words. They can also end up saying things that do not make any sense. As you can see, there are a variety of symptoms that can be associated with these conditions, and often, these signs of dementia may not become apparent until it is too late.