Dementia symptoms can be frustrating for the sufferer and his or her family, and they can be an early sign of Alzheimer’s. What is dementia? It happens to some people as they get older. It’s a gradual loss of cognitive functioning – recalling, thinking, and focusing. The symptoms are severe enough that they interfere with someone’s daily functioning and ability to live a normal life.
The symptoms are sometimes very mild, but they can become very severe. When our brain’s health neurons stop functioning correctly, we start to see signs of dementia. While everyone has some neuronal loss as they age, those with dementia have a lot more of it. Up to 50% of all individuals age 85 or over may have some type of dementia. Still, doctors say it is not a normal part of the aging process. There are many people who live well into their 90s without any dementia at all. This disease can have an effect on the mind, emotions, personality, and thought processes. It’s important to eat a healthy diet throughout life, exercise your brain, and exercise your body regularly to help prevent it. Let’s look at the top 12 signs of dementia.
1. Difficulty finding words
If you find that you or a loved one is having difficulty finding the right words to use to describe something, it could be an early warning sign of dementia. This degenerative condition impairs the memory, which can make it difficult to recall basic information, such as words. For example, you might have a hard time remembering everyday words, such as “keys”, “milk” or “fire truck”. This can make it difficult to have a meaningful conversation or to simply explain something to someone else. Often, conversations become mumbled or drawn out as the person tries to recall words.