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Everyone gets a little forgetful from time to time. But there are certain changes in behavior and personality that can indicate a more serious condition. Doctors explain early warning signs of dementia, including symptoms that are frequently overlooked or mistaken for something else.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe that some of the missed or unrecognized signs for dementia risk can be olfactory, which is a change or loss in smell, sleep issues and\/or sleepiness throughout the day, increased agitation, depression, social withdrawal, and lack of volition,\u201d explains Brian Balin, Ph.D.<\/a>, director of the Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging and professor of Neuroscience and Neuropathology at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.<\/p>\n Meet the Experts: Brian Balin, Ph.D.<\/a>, director of the Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging and professor of Neuroscience and Neuropathology at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine; Elise Caccappolo, Ph.D., <\/a>an associate professor of neuropsychology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center; Rebecca Edelmayer, Ph.D.<\/a>, senior director for scientific engagement for the Alzheimer\u2019s Association.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve experienced a few mild symptoms that are consistent with dementia, that doesn\u2019t necessarily mean you have it. \u201cFor someone to be diagnosed with dementia, they have to have significant decline in more than one cognitive area, and those changes have to affect their daily living,\u201d says Elise Caccappolo, Ph.D., <\/a>an associate professor of neuropsychology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.<\/p>\n Below, experts explain different types of dementia, early warning signs of the disease, and tips for maintaining a healthy brain.<\/p>\n Are there different types of dementia?<\/p>\n Alzheimer\u2019s disease<\/a> is the most common cause, affecting between 60 to 80% of those with dementia, but there are other types to be aware of:<\/p>\n When a person has symptoms of more than one type, it\u2019s called mixed dementia. In some cases, memory loss and confusion can be caused by factors that can be treated or even reversed, such as vitamin deficiencies, hypothyroidism, medication side effects, and depression<\/a>, says Caccappolo.<\/p>\n What are the early signs of dementia?<\/p>\n If you notice that you or a loved one is experiencing any of the following symptoms of dementia, check in with your doctor to ensure a proper diagnosis:<\/p>\n Forgetting things you just learned<\/strong><\/p>\n We all forget a random bit of trivia now and then, but with dementia, you have trouble retaining new information to a point where it impacts your life, says Caccappolo. Many friends and relatives notice this when a loved one starts to ask the same question over and over in the same conversation, or they are unable to remember the details of a TV show they just watched. It also becomes increasingly more difficult to learn new tasks, such as using a cell phone or a new computer program, even if the steps are clearly written down for them.<\/p>\n Problems managing money<\/strong><\/p>\n One of the first line of questions Caccappolo asks her patients is, \u201cAre you still managing the household finances? Are you paying your bills on time? Have you paid any bills twice? Are you making errors when you\u2019re balancing your checkbook?\u201d People with dementia often have trouble with abstract thinking, like math, and are unable to follow the steps to do a task like paying a bill. They may also make poor judgments about spending money or even giving it away.<\/p>\n Getting lost in familiar places<\/strong><\/p>\n Memory loss and visual and spatial difficulties can lead to disorientation, causing people with dementia to get lost easily, even when walking or driving to places they have been to hundreds of times.<\/p>\n Confusion about time and day<\/strong><\/p>\n When you eat breakfast, but then realize it\u2019s dinner time, or you can\u2019t remember the day of the week without looking at a calendar, that can be a sign of cognitive impairment. Caccappolo says patients who have more advanced dementia may get up in the middle of the night and get dressed. It may also become increasingly difficult to know what season or even what year it is.<\/p>\n Visuospatial issues<\/strong><\/p>\n Atrophy in the part of the brain that processes visual information can lead to difficulties with visual perception, causing falls, difficulty driving safely, and problems judging distances and colors. This is different from visual problems due to changes in the health of the eyes<\/a>, so always be sure to check in with your ophthalmologist as well.<\/p>\n Forgetting common words<\/strong><\/p>\n In addition to forgetting names and being unable to retain new information, people with dementia may find themselves unable to come up with the word for a familiar object, like a watch or refrigerator; they also may stop in the middle of a sentence or not be able to carry on a conversation.<\/p>\n Constantly losing things<\/strong><\/p>\n When a person without dementia misplaces their keys or the remote control, they can typically retrace their steps or think of all the logical places the object might be. But for a person with dementia, it can be difficult to take those deductive steps, leading to frustration and frequently suspicion that the items were \u201cstolen.\u201d<\/p>\n A lack of interest in reading<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cIn cognitive evaluations, I always ask, \u2018Are you reading as much as you always did?\u2019\u201d says Caccappolo. She points out that people who used to love reading books find they can\u2019t follow the story or remember what came in the previous pages. \u201cA lot of people will say they can only read short articles now\u2014it\u2019s especially noticeable with people who were really avid readers,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Skipping social gatherings<\/strong><\/p>\n When it becomes difficult to follow a conversation or remember the names of people you don\u2019t see every day, a person with dementia may start to withdraw from friends, and avoid parties or other events involving large groups of people.<\/p>\n Changes in personality<\/strong><\/p>\n People with dementia may find themselves getting more irritable, having a lower tolerance for frustration, and crying more\u2014\u201ceven men who never cried before in their life will cry,\u201d says Caccappolo. And sometimes it goes in the opposite direction. \u201cPeople who have difficult personalities or are very intense can sometimes become much more docile, almost sweeter,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n Can you prevent dementia?<\/p>\n So far, nothing has been proven to completely prevent Alzheimer\u2019s disease<\/a> or other types of dementia. But you can reduce your risk of developing it. Balin says that getting vaccinated for things like shingles, the flu, and tuberculosis has been demonstrated to diminish the risk for developing dementia. \u201cThere are also clinical trials showing that aerobic exercise in older age diminishes risk for dementia,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cOther prevention methods can include following the Mediterranean diet, ensuring you receive 7-8 hours of sleep a night, maintaining social interaction, and maintaining your blood pressure,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Who is most at risk for dementia?<\/p>\n The number one risk factor for dementia is age, and it increases exponentially for each decade past age 60.<\/a> Genetics also play a role; if you have a parent or sibling with dementia, you are somewhat more likely<\/a> to develop it yourself.<\/p>\n Dementia also disproportionately affects women<\/a> and communities of color: According to the Alzheimer\u2019s Association<\/a>, about two-thirds of all people with dementia are women. Older Black and Hispanic Americans are up to two times as likely to develop dementia as older white Americans.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are also many modifiable risk factors that may affect different populations in different ways,\u201d says Rebecca Edelmayer, Ph.D.<\/a>, senior director for scientific engagement for the Alzheimer\u2019s Association. For instance, people with conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol are at higher risk, because they put the brain in a more vulnerable state, in which the pathology of dementia can take hold.<\/p>\n She also points out that Black and Hispanic communities have also been historically underrepresented in clinical trials for new therapies, and encourages individuals from all communities to see if they are eligible for ongoing trials at Alzheimer\u2019s Association\u2019s TrialMatch<\/a> site.<\/p>\n The bottom line<\/p>\n Making lifestyle changes<\/a>, including getting regular exercise,<\/a>eating a Mediterranean-style diet,<\/a> and maintaining strong social ties<\/a> can lower your risk of cognitive decline as you age.<\/p>\n But if you notice any of the signs above and it\u2019s significantly impacting your daily life, the best plan of action is to seek a cognitive evaluation, says Caccappolo. Your local Alzheimer\u2019s Association chapter<\/a> can help connect you to resources.<\/p>\n