Dementia is a serious disease that is very frustrating for the patient and people who are taking care of the patient. It weakens the cells in our brain until they stop working. It mostly occurs in older people, but you are not bound to suffer from dementia as you age. The exact reasons for dementia are still unexplored. Our brain’s natural abilities deteriorate as we grow old. But if you have dementia, this process will happen faster.

People can suffer from different types of dementia. The most common dementia is Alzheimer’s. Other common types include front-temporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, vascular disorder, and mixed dementia. 

Dementia can be detected through some symptoms and signs. Here four of the major symptoms of dementia are mentioned. If you see these symptoms in your loved one, take them for a medical diagnosis. These symptoms will also cause major troubles in the patient’s life, so no one can ignore its effects.

4 Early Dementia Signs To Look Into Your Loved Ones

1. Cognitive disability

Our cognitive abilities weaken as we get old, but dementia makes them weaker. So, the first thing we see is memory loss and confusion. The patient will fail to recall anything from the past. This also includes the names of people, places, and times. They will need help from family members or friends to keep track of time and events. 

If someone is losing memory due to age, they can recall the information after some time. But dementia patients cannot recall forgotten memories. All this forgetfulness creates confusion among them. That is why dementia patients remain in a state of dilemma most of the time. Both Nevada memory care and assisted living facilities offer supportive care to people with a wide range of health issues. However, they differ in certain areas.

They also fail to decide because they fail to understand what is wrong and what is right. Sometimes the patient also gets confused between present, past, and future events. All these issues in cognitive functioning appear due to dementia.

2. Inability to perform familiar tasks

Dementia triggers forgetfulness and confusion, which prevents a patient from performing familiar life tasks. They may face issues while changing the channel on television or using a computer. 

Even simple tasks like making tea or reaching a familiar location can be tricky for them. The patient will face the same difficulties at his or her home and workplace. During the progressive stages of dementia, the patient requires constant assistance in performing regular tasks like eating, cleaning, etc. 

3. Difficulty in understanding complicated concepts

When we suffer from dementia, our brain stops functioning properly. As a result, we fail to follow a plan or guideline. That is why a dementia patient cannot cook a new dish following a recipe. They will also fail to do calculations. 

Problem-solving will become a huge deal for dementia patients. They will also fail to understand visual information. Reading, differentiating, and judging distance may become problematic for such people. Driving or cycling can be really challenging for dementia patients. 

4. The problem in expressing themselves

Engaging in effective conversations for dementia patients is very difficult. They often fail to find exact words to express their thoughts. Because of their forgetful nature, they also forget what they were talking about in the middle of a conversation. 

In terms of spelling, grammar, and handwriting, the person suffers. All these issues affect their social life. They feel uncomfortable around people, so they stop socializing altogether. At times, they also forget to pay attention to others and forget to interact. 

All this stress changes their personality. They also lose their interest in former hobbies. The patient will also suffer from mood swings and become more anxious, irritable, and fearful. 

Conclusion

These are the most common symptoms of dementia. This is a painful disease that has no permanent cure. You can only take proper care of the patient and slow down its speed. That is why early detection of this disease is very important. The sooner you detect, the faster you can start the treatment. A dementia patient must be treated with extreme care and affection. You must understand the patient is already suffering a lot. So, you must not get angry and become impatient. 

Change of approach, deep care, and patience are very important if you want to help a dementia patient. As this disease progresses, they will lose their memory more rapidly. You need to guide them constantly. Always consult your doctor and follow his guidelines. So, keep an eye on the patient and if you see the above-mentioned symptoms, consult a doctor immediately and start the treatment.