Dementia Warning Signs

Judi Ketteler
What Is Dementia?

Equal parts heartbreaking and frustrating, dementia is a neurological condition that robs a person of short-term memory, the ability to think and speak clearly, and to function on their own. The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer's disease, says Karen SantaCruz, M.D., Professor of Neuropathology at the University of Minnesota. Strokes, head injuries, and degenerative diseases (like Huntington's) can also cause dementia -- and there are varying degrees of it. Here are eight key things to look for in a loved one.

Extreme Forgetfulness

The older we get, the more that names, faces and facts slip from our memory. But age-associated cognitive decline is not the same as dementia. Forgetting the name of someone you just met or having trouble remembering phone numbers is frustrating, but not usually a cause for concern. People with dementia-related memory loss will have trouble remembering what they had for breakfast an hour later, or may ask the same questions over and over after they've been answered.

Task Troubles

Dementia usually begins with difficulty learning new tasks -- even simple things like turning a new appliance on or off. At first, the person may retain the ability to perform tasks she's done her whole life, like tying a shoelace. But as it progresses, she'll have difficulty even doing those things.

Getty Images

What's That Word?

Constantly forgetting common words or mixing up related words (like foot and slipper) is very common. The person may compensate by simplifying their language, like saying "foot sock" instead of slipper. Communication becomes frustrating, and because participating in conversations is difficult, they often become more withdrawn.

Getty Images

Cloudy Thinking

A good test for dementia is the Mini-Mental State Exam, a short exam, which a primary care physician can administer. It tests basic reasoning and cognitive function -- things that are a struggle for a person with dementia. The exam includes spelling a word backwards, following directions for simple tasks and recalling a list of three words after being distracted.

Misplacing Things

We all lose keys and other things from time to time, but dementia causes a person not just to misplace things, but also to have impaired judgment -- so they tend to put thing in strange places. They might put their purse in the refrigerator or their watch in the microwave. This makes it increasingly difficult to function on their own (especially living alone) because it can become dangerous.

Getty Images

Disorientation

One of the first questions a physician will ask when evaluating someone for dementia is the current day, month, year and time of day. It's common to not remember what day of the month it is, but normal brain function allows a person to figure it out pretty quickly by reason and association. By contrast, a person with dementia often loses a sense of time and place.

Leave Me Alone!

Mood swings aren't as common in the beginning stages of dementia, but as the other symptoms begin to come on stronger, the person's personality often begins to change. They may be more moody -- suddenly becoming irritable and then giddy, for no apparent reason.

I Don't Feel Like It

Dementia causes a person to lose motivation to do the things they once enjoyed, whether it's a hobby or watching a television program. Sometimes it's because they can no longer cognitively or physically do it, but other times, it's just a general malaise. They also may not feel like going out and socializing with other people.