10 Signs of Dementia

Some common signs of dementia are listed below. Not everyone who has dementia will exhibit all of these symptoms.

1. Memory loss:
   Forgetting an appointment, or a cup of coffee you put down somewhere, is normal. People with dementia forget things more often – and they never remember them again.

2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks:
   We may cook a meal for our family, and forget to serve the salad. People with dementia may forget they cooked the meal at all.

3. Problems with language:
   We may all have difficulties finding the right words from time to time. People with dementia may forget even simple words entirely, and replace them at random, at times rendering their speech incomprehensible.

4. Time and place disorientation:
   What date is today? What was it I went into the living room to get? Anyone may forget such things. People with dementia may get lost even on their own street. They may forget how they got to a certain place, and how to get back home.

5. Poor judgement:
   Anyone may get distracted from time to time. But people with dementia may entirely forget where they are and what they are doing. They can forget simple things – and for instance put on a heavy coat in hot weather.

6. Problems with abstract thinking:
   Anybody might have trouble doing their taxes, or balancing their accounts, but people who have dementia may forget what numbers are, and what to do with them.

7. Misplacing things: People with dementia might leave the iron in the freezer, or the house keys in the sock drawer, and forget all about it. Later, they can't find these things again.

8. Mood swings:
   Everyone is moody at times, but people who have dementia may have rapid mood swings, going from happy to distraught to angry in a matter of moments.

9. Changes in personality:
   As we grow older, it is natural for our perception of many things to change. People with dementia may have drastic personality changes and may, for instance, become very confused, irritable, or fearful, even though they have never been this way before.

10. Loss of initiative:
    At times, we may all feel dispirited by the humdrum of daily life. People with dementia may become entirely despondent and passive. They might not want to go places or see other people, and may need reassurance and encouragement in order to complete even simple tasks.