Dementia is a medical condition most commonly associated with Alzheimer’s, but it can also appear as a factor in Parkinson’s, brain injuries, depression, Pick’s disease, and others. It manifests itself most notably through memory loss but has other symptoms as well. If your family has a history of the condition or you simply want to know what the early signs and symptoms of dementia are, here’s a brief list. Review them, and if you recognize some of the signs, consult with your doctor or other health care provider about the next steps.
Memory Loss
As mentioned, memory loss is the symptom most often connected with dementia. While everyone has trouble recalling a phone number, address, or person’s name occasionally, persistent memory loss manifests as particularly intense forgetfulness. New and old information is lost, temporarily or permanently, and the forgetfulness can eventually persist and grow worse. Memory loss can be caused by Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or just old age, or it may just be the result of sleeplessness, anxiety, depression, or daily stress. Whatever the case, if memory loss continues to interfere with your daily life, see a doctor about it.
Difficulty With Tasks
Difficulty with tasks is another potential sign of dementia. As this condition develops, things that were once easy to accomplish become more difficult. The person forgets the muscle memory involved in performing a task, or they forget the steps involved in doing it. Confusion can develop, causing the individual to become disorganized and even discouraged from completing a task or even beginning it. If you find yourself having trouble doing everyday tasks, see your doctor.
Diminished Comprehension/Conversation
You may still be wondering, what are the early signs and symptoms of dementia? Well, speech patterns and conversational skills can be noticeably affected by this illness. An individual can experience repeated difficulty in recalling a specific word or phrase in conversation. They may forget the names of people, places, and things or be unable to identify a common object placed before them. Conversations can go round and round or end abruptly. Individuals with dementia may even speak at inappropriate volumes or lose the ability to speak at all. Again, repeated occurrences of speech issues should be taken up with a doctor who can test to see if it’s a sign of dementia or something else.
Loss of Sense of Time and Place
Often, people with dementia begin to “live in the past.” The condition can cause them to revert to old memories from early in their lives and, in some cases, even return to speaking their original language. Dementia can also affect the perception of the passage of time, making events and occurrences seem to last longer or shorter than they actually did. Dementia sufferers may even find themselves confused and “lost” in a familiar place.
If you or someone you know recently received a diagnosis of dementia, we may be able to help. Neurospa offers several treatments, including TMS for dementia.
