\u201cThe magic line that transitions someone from mild cognitive impairment to dementia is when one of their cognitive impairments is impairing function. For me, that\u2019s one of the key parts of defining when someone has transitioned to dementia,\u201d said Dr. Stephanie Nothelle<\/a>, a geriatrician and an associate professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore.<\/p>\n This could mean no longer being able to use a car, getting lost while driving a familiar route or not being able to do one\u2019s taxes after decades of doing them, she said. If cognitive changes make it tough to get through a normal day, that\u2019s a red flag, she added.<\/p>\n Dementia<\/a> is an umbrella term that describes multiple forms of cognitive impairment, including Alzheimer\u2019s disease (the most common form of dementia), vascular dementia and Parkinson\u2019s, according to Nothelle.<\/p>\n The exact manifestations of the disease depend on the actual diagnosis. And while cognitive impairment is a common thread, there are also some physical symptoms that tend to be associated with dementia. Here\u2019s what they are:<\/p>\n 1. Trouble Walking And Balancing<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI find that a lot of the more physical manifestations happen later in the course of dementia,\u201d Nothelle said. But there is a physical issue that occurs earlier on and gets worse throughout the course of the disease, she said, and that\u2019s \u201csomeone\u2019s ability to walk and maintain balance.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe ability to maintain your balance and walk smoothly, actually, it requires a lot of brain power because you have to process a lot of different inputs,\u201d Nothelle noted.<\/p>\n You have to process sensations from your feet, you have to process what your eye is seeing in the environment around you and more. \u201cYou have to quickly react to these things, and so it\u2019s a very cognitive task to be able to walk,\u201d Nothelle said.<\/p>\n Because of all of this, trouble walking, trouble balancing<\/a> and falling frequently is a sign of dementia. (But note that these issues aren\u2019t only a sign of the disease; they can be due to arthritis or even clumsiness.)<\/p>\n 2. Posture Changes And Feet Shuffling<\/strong><\/p>\n The second-most-common form of dementia is Lewy body dementia, said Dr. Jori Fleisher<\/a>, an associate professor of neurological sciences at Rush University in Chicago. This describes a few types of dementia, including Parkinson\u2019s disease. <\/p>\n In this manifestation, you may notice posture changes, feet shuffling or that someone is walking slower than they used to, Fleisher said.<\/p>\n While it\u2019s easy to chalk these issues up to getting older, not paying attention or arthritis, \u201cif we\u2019re seeing a pattern of that, we want to pay attention to it,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n 3. Changes In Your Sense Of Taste And Smell<\/strong><\/p>\n A change in your sense of taste or smell can be attributed to many issues, such as a COVID-19 infection or a history of sinus problems, but outside of known factors, unexplained changes in these senses can also be related to dementia.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes the person doesn\u2019t notice it themselves, but their loved one is going, \u2018Hey, something on the stove and was burning and you didn\u2019t smell that,\u2019\u201d Fleisher explained.<\/p>\n This is a symptom that should push someone to see a doctor. While it may not be a sign of all forms of dementia, it is associated with Lewy body dementia, according to Fleisher.<\/p>\n 4. Problems Swallowing <\/strong><\/p>\n People with dementia may also experience trouble swallowing food and drinks.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople will be eating or drinking, and things will have a tendency to accidentally \u2018go down the wrong pipe,\u2019 so to say,\u201d said Nothelle.<\/p>\n In this case, the food actually does go down the wrong pipe, she said. \u201cIf you have food or fluid that goes down your windpipe into your lungs, that\u2019s not supposed to be there,\u201d Nothelle noted.<\/p>\n Saliva helps us swallow food and drinks, and \u201cour mouths are full of bacteria,\u201d she said. While some of the bacteria is good, some of it is not-so-good (hence cavities and gum disease) and if that bad bacteria ends up in your lungs with your food, it can set you up for infection, she explained.<\/p>\n \u201cWe call that aspiration pneumonia, and that\u2019s why pneumonia is relatively common in the later part of dementia,\u201d Nothelle explained.<\/p>\n Westend61 via Getty Images<\/p>\n Things such as swallowing trouble, balance problems and more can all be ways that dementia shows up physically.<\/p>\n 5. Bladder Control Issues <\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cIncontinence, unfortunately, can be a symptom of dementia,\u201d said Nothelle. <\/p>\n A lot of nerves are required for bladder control, \u201cand those nerves degenerate as dementia progresses,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Similarly, folks may experience new constipation later in life, according to Fleisher.<\/p>\n \u201cThat can also be a sign of Parkinson\u2019s and related conditions, and often precedes the other symptoms by years,\u201d Fleisher noted.<\/p>\n 6. Sleep Changes<\/strong><\/p>\n According to Fleisher, sleep changes are also important to look out for.<\/p>\n The person experiencing sleep changes may not notice, but if you live with someone and find they\u2019re moving around a lot at night, punching, shouting or talking in their sleep, it\u2019s important to let their health care team know, Fleisher said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat may be something called REM behavior disorder, which often can come years before a person has Parkinson\u2019s or Lewy body dementia,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n An early diagnosis can be a powerful way to prepare for the future.<\/strong><\/p>\n It can certainly be hard to admit to any health problems or changes, especially when it comes to cognition \u2014 but it\u2019s important to do so.<\/p>\n We are living in a time of innovation when it comes to dementia treatments, said Fleisher.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s lots of different research going on right now to try to find treatments and pharmaceutical options for people,\u201d Nothelle added.<\/p>\n Doctors can check biomarkers in blood or spinal fluid to determine what kind of dementia someone has and make treatment decisions based on that, Fleisher said.<\/p>\n No matter what, it\u2019s best to start treatments or interventions early on in the course of the disease, both Nothelle and Fleisher said.<\/p>\n The treatments aren\u2019t a cure, but can help with disease management. More, an early diagnosis can also help families (and individuals) best prepare.<\/p>\n \u201cFinding out early on can be really helpful for a lot of different reasons, including planning and just having a say in your future,\u201d said Nothelle. If you find out early, you often can still make some decisions, whether that\u2019s your care, where you\u2019ll live or financial choices.<\/p>\n This all makes it important to pay attention to any signs of dementia (either in yourself or a loved one) and reach out to a doctor if you notice concerning changes.<\/p>\n \u201cAs scary as we know that this is, a diagnosis and knowledge and early detection is power,\u201d said Fleisher.<\/p>\n Whether you have any of the symptoms above or not, there are things you can do to reduce your dementia risk or slow down disease prevention. These include all of the things that go into a healthy lifestyle, both experts said. <\/p>\n To lower your chance of dementia, it\u2019s helpful to follow a nutritious diet (Fleisher recommends the MIND diet<\/a>), exercise, socialize with loved ones and manage chronic conditions like diabetes, high and sleep apnea.<\/p>\n![\"Things](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/69306540220000961160c8e4.jpeg\")
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