Examples of the 10 warning signs of dementia

University Parkway January 22, 2023

There are 10 key warning signs of dementia that may arise when a loved one is beginning to show symptoms. They include Memory loss, difficulty performing familiar tasks, problems with language, disorientation, impaired judgement, problems with abstract thinking, misplacing things, changes in mood, changes in personality, and loss of initiative. Below are examples of each.

Memory loss that affects day-to-day abilities – occasionally forgetting an appointment, or a friend’s phone number only to remember them a short while later is normal. A person with dementia may forget things more often, or may have increased difficulty recalling information that has been recently learned.
Difficulty performing familiar tasks – we all can occasionally be so distracted that we may forget to serve a part of a meal, only to remember it later. A person with dementia may have trouble completing tasks that have been familiar to them all their lives, such as preparing a meal.
Problems with language – as we age, we all may have trouble finding the right word to express what we want to say. A person with dementia may forget simple words or may substitute words to the point that what they are saying is difficult to understand.
Disorientation to time and place – have you forgotten what day of the week it is, or why you walked into your bedroom? People living with dementia can become lost on their own streets, not knowing how they got there or how to get home.
Impaired judgment – we all may put off seeing our doctor from time to time when we are not feeling well. However, a person living with dementia may not recognize a medical problem that needs attention.

Problems with abstract thinking – from time to time we may have difficulty with a task that requires abstract thinking, such as balancing a checkbook. Someone living with dementia may have significant difficulties with such a task because of the loss of understanding of what numbers are for and how they are used.
Misplacing things – ever misplace your wallet or keys, we all have. The person with dementia not only misplaces items, but they put them in inappropriate places. Such as keys in the freezer.
Changes in mood or behavior – anyone at any given time can feel sad or moody. However, someone living with dementia can show various mood swings-from calm to tears and anger, for no apparent reason.
Changes in personality – our personalities can change in such small ways over time we may never notice it. The person living with dementia may experience obvious personality changes and become confused, suspicious, fearful, or withdrawn.
Loss of initiative – it is only normal human nature to become tired of housework, business activities, or social obligations, but we eventually regain our initiative. A person with dementia may become passive or disinterested and may require cues and prompting to become involved.