Warning Signs of Dementia, pt. 1 

What is dementia? 

Dementia is a catch-all term for changes in the brain that cause a loss of functioning that interferes with daily life. It can diminish focus, attention, language skills, problem-solving and visual perception. Dementia can also make it difficult for a person to control his or her emotions and can even lead to personality changes.

If someone is showing signs of dementia, it’s important to see a medical expert who can conduct tests and come up with a diagnosis. Several often treatable conditions — from common infections to a vitamin deficiency — can cause dementia-like symptoms, so it’s necessary to rule them out first.

Here are some (part 1) symptoms to watch for: 

1. Difficulty with everyday tasks: Everyone makes mistakes, but people with dementia may find it increasingly difficult to do things like keep track of monthly bills or follow a recipe while cooking. They may also find it hard to concentrate on tasks, take much longer to do them or have trouble finishing them.

2. Repetition: Asking a question over and over or telling the same story about a recent event multiple times are common indicators of mild or moderate Alzheimer’s.

3. Communication problems: Observe if a loved one has trouble joining in conversations or following along with them, stops abruptly in the middle of a thought, or struggles to think of words or the name of objects.

4. Getting lost: People with dementia may have difficulty with visual and spatial abilities. That can manifest itself in problems like getting lost while driving.

5. Personality changes: A loved one who begins acting unusually anxious, confused, fearful or suspicious, or who becomes upset easily and seems depressed, is cause for concern.

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