Recognizing the Early Symptoms of Dementia

Dementia is more than occasional forgetfulness. It’s a symptom shared by many degenerative neurological conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease.

Dementia affects 57 million people around the world, and unfortunately, the World Health Organization estimates that 10 million more people develop the condition each year. Dementia, along with the neurological conditions that cause it, is a leading cause of disability and requires comprehensive medical care.

This statistic highlights the importance of recognizing the signs of dementia as soon as you can. The earlier you recognize the signs, the sooner you or your loved one can get the right care and support.

Take a moment as our team of experts shares the top five early symptoms of dementia and how we can help here at the Link Neuroscience Institute.

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life

It’s one thing to have an occasional forgetful moment. Stress, lack of sleep, and an overloaded schedule can tax your memory.

However, forgetting recently learned information is one of the most common early signs of dementia. While it’s normal to forget an appointment and remember it later, people with dementia may forget important dates, repeat questions, or increasingly rely on memory aids to get through the day.

2. Difficulty completing familiar tasks

Everyday activities like following a recipe, managing a budget, or remembering the rules of a favorite game can become overwhelming. If these tasks become noticeably harder, it may be a warning sign.

3. Confusion with time and place

Losing your sense of direction in a new environment can happen to anyone. 

Losing track of dates, seasons, or forgetting where you are can be scary, and people with dementia may forget how they got somewhere or become disoriented even in familiar environments.

4. Trouble with language

Struggling to find the right words, calling objects by the wrong name, or repeating the same phrases can signal dementia. You may start to notice that conversations with a loved one may become harder to follow, both for the person with dementia and for those around them.

5. Changes in mood or personality

Dementia doesn’t only affect memory; it can also cause shifts in mood and personality. A person may become anxious, suspicious, depressed, or irritable, especially in social situations outside their comfort zone.

Depression, for example, is very common in people with vascular dementia. They may even experience delusions and hallucinations.

What to do if you spot the warning signs of dementia

If you notice early symptoms of dementia, the next step is to schedule an evaluation. At Link Neuroscience Institute, we run specialized tests to confirm not only if dementia is present, but also which type may be affecting you or your loved one.

The most common forms of dementia include:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Lewy body dementia
• Vascular dementia
• Frontotemporal disorders

Once we identify the underlying condition, we create a personalized treatment plan. Early intervention can help slow symptoms, improve their quality of life, and provide access to treatments and support systems.

In addition to proven therapies, we may recommend advanced options such as deep brain stimulation, which can help manage certain neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

Schedule your consultation today 

If you or a loved one is experiencing any of these symptoms, don’t dismiss them as “just aging.” Dementia can progress quickly.

Call Link Neuroscience Institute in Camarillo, Santa Barbara, or Oxnard, California, or click here to schedule your appointment.