Similarly, Alzheimer’s disease affects a person’s ability to perform daily chores. It impacts their brain function and hinders their work and social life. In this condition, it is important to receive a proper diagnosis, but fear and anxiety may lead some individuals not to get help.
10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Dementia
Whether you are suffering from dementia or someone you care about, it is essential that you should be aware of the early signs of dementia. It will help you to make an early diagnosis.
Changes in Memory Affecting Daily Chores
Do you or someone you know experience symptoms of dementia? Usually, the person starts to forget things or has difficulty retaining new information.
It is common to forget about appointments, the names of colleagues or friends, or a phone number. However, a person with dementia may forget things more often or may face difficulty recalling the things that happened recently.
Trouble in Doing Familiar Tasks
A person who is suffering or has a loved one who is in the same situation may face difficulty in doing daily tasks, such as preparing a meal or getting up and dressed.
In today’s busy world, it is normal for people to forget meals occasionally, but individuals with dementia may consistently struggle to complete tasks like eating. However, a person with dementia may face difficulty in completing the tasks that they have been familiar with throughout their lives, like playing a game or making a meal.
Changes in Communication and Language
It is normal to face trouble in finding the right word to express what you want to say. However, a person experiencing dementia may not remember simple words or may use words that are hard to understand.
Disorientation in Place and Time
Forgetting the day or purpose of entering a room is common, but for individuals with dementia, such disorientation can become frequent and severe. It happens to everyone. But people who have dementia can lose their way to the house, not knowing how they have come to a specific place or how to go back home.
Making Poor Judgements
With time, people may make bad decisions, such as not seeing the doctor when they are feeling ill. However, dementia patients may experience changes in decision-making or judgment. This includes not paying for a medical problem that needs care or wearing a sweater in summer.
Facing Problems With Abstract Thinking
With time, people may experience issues with tasks that need abstract thinking, like managing the finances. However, with dementia, individuals face challenges in understanding what numbers are and how to use them.
Read More:- How to Prevent Alzheimer’s and Dementia? Ways to Reduce Risk
Misplacing Things
It is normal to misplace things, like keys or a wallet. But, a person living with dementia may put things in the wrong places. For instance, keep a remote in the refrigerator.
Changes in Mood, Personality, and Behaviour
Sometimes, a person feels moody or sad or experiences changes in their behavior. However, an individual who is suffering from dementia may face more severe changes. For instance, they may quickly feel upset and tearful without any reason. Moreover, they may be fearful, confused, detached from others, or suspicious. They may act differently, but they should behave normally.
Not Taking Initiative
It is not a big deal if someone loses interest in doing business activities, housework, or social activities, but with time, most people get back to normal and start taking initiative. However, a person living with dementia may become disinterested or passive. They often require encouragement to engage in daily activities and social interactions.
Facing Challenges in Understanding Visuals
A person who has dementia may face issues with vision, like in movement. In addition, they may face challenges in finding their way around or placing things. Sometimes, dementia can be caused because of these reasons, and it is better to get a check from a healthcare professional as soon as possible.
10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease
Memory loss that can affect daily activities may be a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease or other type of dementia. Alzheimer’s is a type of brain disease that leads to a decline in memory, thinking skills, and reasoning abilities. Below, we have discussed the early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
Loss of Memory Making Difficult to Do Daily Chores
Sometimes, patients forget the appointments or names but remember them later. In the early stage, one of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s disease is not remembering recent information, including important events or dates, asking the same question again and again, and mostly depending on memory aids (like electronic devices or reminder notes).
Experience Challenges in Solving Problems
Making errors in household bills and having problems managing finances. People who are suffering from dementia may face changes working with numbers. Moreover, they may also face trouble in keeping track of monthly house bills. They also face difficulties in concentrating and take too much time to do things that they were able to do easily earlier.
Getting Issues in Completing Familiar Tasks
Sometimes, people need help recording a TV show or using the microwave. People who are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease usually find it difficult to do daily activities. Moreover, sometimes, they face trouble in driving to known locations, remembering the rules of their favorite game, or making a list of groceries.
Confusion With Place or Time
People with Alzheimer’s disease can forget to remember dates, seasons, and how the time is going. They may also face trouble understanding things that are not happening immediately. Additionally, sometimes they may even forget how they got to someplace.
Challenges in Understanding Visual Images
People who are having vision problems may be a sign of Alzheimer’s disease. It may cause difficulty in balancing or reading. They may also face difficulties in judging the distance and identifying contrast or color, which leads to problems while driving.
Problem in Speaking or Writing
Sometimes, they face issues finding the right word. People who have Alzheimer’s disease may face issues while having a conversion. They may stop in the middle of the conversation and not know how to continue that conversation. They may also face problems with their vocabulary, trouble calling the names of familiar objects, or using incorrect names. Instead of calling a “watch,” they call a “hand clock”.
Misplacing Things
A person who is experiencing Alzheimer’s disease may put things in incorrect spots. They may lose things and not be able to keep them in their original place. He or she may blame others for stealing things, especially when the person has already surpassed the early stage.
Poor Judgement
Making a bad choice or decision once at a time, including saying no to things. Individuals may face changes in making decisions and judgments. For instance, they may not use the right judgment when dealing with money or pay less attention to self-care.
Not Taking Interest in Social Activities
Not feeling interested in taking part in family or social gatherings. People who have Alzheimer’s disease may have difficulty having a conversation. As an outcome, he or she may not follow their social activities, hobbies, or do other things. Moreover, they may also face issues in keeping up with their favorite activity or team.
Age-Related Change
Getting used to doing things in a specific way and getting irritated when the routine gets disrupted. Individuals facing Alzheimer’s disease may experience changes in mood and personality. They can become suspicious, confused, anxious, or fearful.
Hopefully, now you understand: what are early signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s? If you are concerned about any of these signs, the next step is to know how you can reduce the signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s, or you can contact a healthcare professional.
How to Reduce Early Signs of Dementia?
Dementia affects millions of people, nearly one in adults over the age of 65. Below, we have provided some tips on how you can reduce the early signs of dementia and support brain health and cognitive function throughout your life. Let’s have a look:
Daily Checking Your Blood Pressure
According to the research, better control of the blood pressure at the time of midlife not only helps reduce the risk of cognitive health and dementia but also protects from stroke or heart attack.
Protection of Your Hearing
Make sure that you wear ear protection when you are exposed to excessive noise. It helps lower the risk of hearing loss. In addition, use hearing aids when required.
Prevent Head Injury
Physical damage to the brain, like traumatic brain injury, can disrupt its normal function. Ensure that you are wearing essential head equipment when riding a bike or playing sports. Additionally, wear a seat belt while driving a car or sitting in the car. If you feel any concerns about TBI or concussion, visit the physician right away.
Maintain a Good Sleep
Sleep can benefit the mind in many ways. It provides the brain with the chance to lock in the memories and elevate the ability to learn new skills. According to recent research, sleep disturbances like sleep apnea can be linked with causing dementia. Try to get quality sleep to reduce the risk of dementia.
Be Socially Engaged
According to studies, if you are socially active, it may help support your brain health, and it possibly reduces the risk of dementia. Engage in social outings to stay connected with family and friends, or you can choose a social activity that you are interested in, like participating or volunteering in community groups.
Take Care of Your Mental Health
As per some studies, the history of depression is somehow linked with dementia in later life. Maintaining hobbies and social activities can help ease depression, and doing physical activity can help reduce stress. If you face signs like anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues, make sure that you discuss it with your healthcare professional.
How to Reduce Early Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease?
Many strategies can be implemented, as per the current research and experts’ recommendations, to reduce the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease:
Physical Activity
Taking part in regular exercise can help maintain cognitive performance and brain health. However, there is no such limited research that shows that physical activity can help prevent Alzheimer’s. According to preliminary research, higher levels of physical activity can lead to better cognitive function.
Control of Blood Pressure
It is important to control high blood pressure. According to SPRINT-MIND research, lowering the systolic blood pressure to below 120mmH instead of 140 mmHg can significantly reduce the chance of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Moreover, it slows down the accumulation of white matter in the brain, which is linked with dementia.
Following Healthy Diet
There is no specific diet to recommend; however, some healthy eating diets are linked to cognitive benefits. For instance, reducing sugar intake or managing weight can protect the brain and help reduce inflammation.
Cognitive Training
Engaging in brain-challenging activities, such as playing board games, reading, or solving puzzles, can help maintain cognitive function.
Quality of Sleep
It is important to ensure that you get quality and adequate sleep. Not having proper sleep can affect mood and cognitive function. This leads to the development risk of Alzheimer’s disease and may worsen the symptoms.
Engaging Socially
Staying socially active and getting engaged with others can help maintain cognitive health.
In Closure
Prevention is better than cure. The same goes for the patients who are suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s. Knowing what are early signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s can help individuals take precautions before the situation gets worse. However, even the support services can be beneficial for you or your loved ones who are going through this. These services specifically focus on promoting a healthy lifestyle for the patients and understanding their emotional requirements.
If you are looking for professional Alzheimer’s or dementia support services, consider Alnicor Consulting for personalized care plans. We are the ideal destination to have experienced and trained caregivers who provide necessary support to patients. Moreover, we create a customized care plan for each individual patient, as per their specific needs. Schedule your appointment by visiting our website today!