As people age, memory and other cognitive abilities decline. But common age-related forgetfulness usually does not cause dementia, which is an impairment that disrupts everyday functioning.
If you or a loved one is concerned about mental slips, keep in mind the following warning signs of dementia:
- Asking multiple questions about information that was presumably just learned
- Having difficulties solving simple tasks like following a familiar recipe or paying bills on time
- Getting lost driving to familiar places or having trouble following the rules of a favorite game
- Difficulties with speech that cause a person to stop in the middle of a conversation and have trouble continuing
- Frequently repeating what has already been said
- Often misplacing things but unable to retrace steps to find them, accusing others of stealing misplaced items, or both
- Experiencing judgment lapses such as inappropriately giving away large amounts of money
- Neglecting personal grooming
- Withdrawing from social activities
- Showing mood or personality changes
Anyone concerned about these warning signs should consult a doctor. The symptoms can have many different causes; the sooner you find out the actual cause, the sooner you can get proper treatment.
Although there is no cure for Alzheimer’s dementia, medications are available to help patients maintain a higher level of functioning longer.