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Symptoms of Dementia

A diagnosis of dementia can and should only be made by a medical professional. Many symptoms associated with dementia are also associated with other, less impactful conditions – and can be treated. However, it is often after observing signs around the home that a family member or friend raises concerns about the possibility of dementia in a loved one. So it is certainly good to be aware of the symptoms.

What is dementia?

Dementia is not a specific condition or disease. It is a term that is used to describe a range of symptoms associated with loss of memory, thinking skills and behaviour skills that significantly reduce a person’s ability to perform everyday activities.

Dementia is caused by damage to brain cells. As a result, brain cells have difficulty communicating with each other. The type of dementia that a person has depends on which cells have been damaged.

10 common symptoms of dementia

There are many symptoms of dementia associated with the various types of dementia.Not all of the symptoms for all of the dementia types are listed, and not all of those listed apply to all dementia types. Rather, they are the most common symptoms.

1. Frequent short-term memory loss

Frequent memory loss is one of the most common signs of dementia. It is short-term memory loss that is the one to look out for; everyone forgets things that happened a long time ago. Forgetting appointments and dates, forgetting where they put particular items, forgetting why they are in a particular room, and needing information repeated several times are common memory-associated symptoms of dementia.

2. Lack of clarity in communication and language

People with dementia may have difficulties following and participating in a conversation. When expressing themselves they may lose track in the middle of a sentence, repeat themselves or use the wrong word by which to call something. They may also appear to go off topic.

3. Lack of focus

Another common sign of dementia is a lack of focus, particularly in seeing through tasks from beginning to end. This applies not only to new, complex tasks, but simple and familiar tasks such as preparing a meal or looking up something on a computer.

4. Confusion

Confusion can take many forms, such as not knowing why one is in a particular place, mixing up times or days, not immediately recognising faces of people they know, or even remembering the rules to a game they have played many times.

5. Personality change

Personality and mood changes can take several forms. Some people have a short fuse that is easily triggered; others may become suspicious, depressed or anxious. Because dementia can affect judgement, it is not uncommon for some people to become uninhibited or more outgoing.

6. Apathy and withdrawal

Loss of interest in previously- enjoyed activities and hobbies is a common early symptom of dementia. It is often accompanied by listlessness and a lack of desire to partake in many activities.

7. Decreased or poor judgement

The ability to make the right decisions can be impaired in people with dementia. Money-related issues are particularly common, not least because some people prey or take advantage of people with dementia. Dementia sufferers are particularly susceptible to telemarketers and scam artists.

8. Difficulty performing everyday tasks

We complete hundreds of familiar tasks every day, at home and in the workplace. People with dementia can have difficulty completing tasks that they previously did by rote. These include cooking a regular meal, budgeting their finances or putting on a load of washing.

9. Change in visual perception

People may start having difficulty judging distance, space, colour and contrast. In some areas of life this can be easily overcome but when driving a car or even being a pedestrian, the result can be fatal.

10. Adapting to change

People with dementia can be resistant to change, no matter how small. They can become fearful and anxious. Sometimes this is a result of trying to adapt to change and not succeeding.

Support and care

If you are searching for care and support for your loved one, do not rush into the first available option. Talk to CareAbout to check various options and facilities, particularly focusing on those who provide specialist dementia care.

An individual diagnosis of dementia has an impact on a network of people: friends, families and colleagues. Support and further information is available from the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 or at www.dementia.org.au.

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