Early Signs of Dementia: 10 Warning Signs & When to Seek Help

Introduction

Memory loss in a loved one can be one of the most challenging experiences a family faces. Is it simply a normal part of aging, or could it be something more serious? Understanding the difference can be crucial for ensuring your family member receives the care and support they need.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about recognizing dementia in its early stages. You’ll discover what dementia actually is and how it differs from Alzheimer’s disease, learn to identify the 10 key warning signs that distinguish dementia from typical age-related changes, understand why early detection matters for treatment and planning, and find practical strategies for having difficult conversations with loved ones about memory concerns.

Whether you’re noticing changes in a parent, spouse, or friend, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to take informed, compassionate action. Understanding the nature of dementia itself provides the foundation for recognizing its early signs.

What is Dementia?

Dementia is a set of symptoms that can include memory loss, impaired judgment and difficulty with language, thinking and problem-solving. It is not a normal part of aging, but rather a result of physical changes in the brain. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form, but other types include vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia and mixed dementia.

This distinction matters because different types of dementia affect individuals in unique ways, influencing both symptoms and care approaches. With this understanding in place, we can now explore the specific warning signs that indicate when cognitive changes have moved beyond normal aging.

10 Early Signs of Dementia vs. Typical Aging

Dementia rates are rising across the U.S. and throughout Georgia. For families in Neese Road, these aren’t just statistics—they represent our neighbours and loved ones.

It’s a common misconception that significant memory loss is a “normal” part of aging. While minor slowing is natural, dementia is a progressive decline that disrupts daily life. Recognizing the difference is the first step toward finding the right support.

1. Memory Loss That Disrupts Daily Life

This is often the most recognizable of the early signs of dementia. It involves forgetting information that was recently learned. You might notice your loved one asking the same question five minutes after you answered it, or forgetting the date of a grandson’s graduation they were just talking about. They may start to rely heavily on memory aids, like “to-do” lists or phone alarms, for tasks they used to handle with ease.

Typical Age-Related Change: Occasionally forgetting names or appointments but remembering them later in the day.

2. Challenges in Planning or Solving Problems

Dementia affects “executive function.” This means a person might struggle to follow a plan or work with numbers. For example, a long-time cook might suddenly find it impossible to follow a familiar recipe, or someone who always managed the family finances might start making significant errors with monthly bills. They may find it difficult to concentrate and take much longer to do things than they did before.

Typical Age-Related Change: Making an occasional error when balancing a checkbook or calculating a tip at a restaurant.

3. Difficulty Completing Familiar Tasks

People living with early stages of dementia often find it hard to complete daily tasks that were once second nature. This could manifest as getting lost while driving to the grocery store in Neese Road, where they’ve shopped for twenty years. It might also look like a person forgetting the rules of their favorite card game or struggling to organize a simple shopping list.

Typical Age-Related Change: Occasionally needing help to use a new piece of technology, like a new cell phone or microwave settings.

4. Confusion With Time or Place

One of the more disorienting signs of dementia is losing track of dates, seasons, and the passage of time. A person may have trouble understanding something if it isn’t happening immediately. They may also forget where they are or how they got there. This “sundowning” or general confusion can lead to significant anxiety for the individual as they lose their sense of “home.”

Typical Age-Related Change: Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out a few hours later.

5. Trouble Understanding Visual Images and Spatial Relationships

For some, vision problems are actually early dementia signs. This isn’t about needing a new pair of glasses; it’s about how the brain processes what the eyes see. They may have difficulty judging distance, determining colour or contrast, or perceiving depth. This can make driving a car or even walking down a flight of stairs very dangerous.

Typical Age-Related Change: Vision changes related to physical eye issues, like cataracts or macular degeneration.

6. New Problems With Words in Speaking or Writing

A person with dementia may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They might stop in the middle of a sentence and have no idea how to continue, or they may repeat themselves frequently. They might struggle with vocabulary, such as calling a “refrigerator” a “cold-box” or a “watch” a “wrist-clock.”

Typical Age-Related Change: Occasionally having trouble finding the exact right word to use in a sentence.

7. Misplacing Things and Losing the Ability to Retrace Steps

Everyone loses their keys now and then. However, a person living with dementia may put things in unusual places—like putting their car keys in the microwave or their eyeglasses in the sugar jar. They lose the cognitive ability to “retrace their steps” to find the item. In later stages, this frustration can lead to them accusing others of stealing their belongings.

Typical Age-Related Change: Misplacing things from time to time but being able to think back and find them.

8. Decreased or Poor Judgment

Dementia can lead to a noticeable decline in judgment or decision-making. You might notice your loved one giving away large sums of money to telemarketers or scammers. They may also pay less attention to personal grooming or hygiene, wearing the same clothes for days or forgetting to bathe, which is a major departure from their previous habits.

Typical Age-Related Change: Making a bad decision once in a while, like overspending on a luxury item or neglecting to change the oil in the car.

9. Withdrawal From Work or Social Activities

Because of the challenges mentioned above, a person with early dementia signs may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, or work projects. They might stop going to their bridge club or quit attending church because they find it difficult to keep up with the conversation or the rules of the game. This withdrawal is often a defense mechanism against the embarrassment of forgetting.

Typical Age-Related Change: Sometimes feeling weary of work, family, or social obligations and needing a “day off.”

10. Changes in Mood and Personality

The early signs of dementia often include a shift in how a person acts. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful, or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, or in places where they are out of their comfort zone. A person who was once easygoing might become irritable or aggressive without an obvious cause.

Typical Age-Related Change: Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a long-held routine is disrupted.

Benefits of Early Detection

Early detection is one of the most powerful tools available to families. Identifying memory loss early allows for wider treatment options. While most dementias aren’t curable, medications can help manage symptoms like anxiety and memory decline. Early diagnosis also allows participation in clinical trials.

Beyond medical advantages, an early diagnosis provides an explanation for changes, reducing anxiety for the individual. It gives families time to strengthen their support system and seek memory care resources before a crisis occurs.

Early detection also enables crucial planning. The individual can participate in legal and financial decisions while they still have capacity—creating healthcare directives, designating power of attorney, and expressing wishes for future care.

Understanding these benefits makes the case for action clear, but initiating a conversation about memory concerns requires sensitivity and preparation.

Approaching a Loved One With Your Concerns

Starting a conversation about memory loss requires care. Keep these strategies in mind:

• Choose the Right Time and Place: Find a quiet, private setting when your loved one is calm and in good spirits.
• Express Empathy and Support: Use “I” statements like, “I’ve noticed you seem to be forgetting things more often, and I’m concerned because I love you.”
• Use Specific Examples: Gently reference specific instances you’ve observed while avoiding vague or accusatory statements.
• Actively Listen: Give them space to share their feelings. They may feel relieved to discuss changes they’ve noticed.
• Offer Help, Not Pressure: Suggest a healthcare visit as a precaution and offer to accompany them.
• Reassure Them of Support: Emphasize that you’ll face this together, ensuring they don’t feel alone.

Having these difficult conversations is just the beginning—knowing where to turn for professional support makes the path forward much clearer.

Where to Get Help

If you’re seeing these signs of dementia, you don’t have to go through it alone. Bellevue Village at Neese Road is here to serve as a resource for families in the Neese Road.

As a provider of senior living and specialized care, Bellevue Village at Neese Road is dedicated to helping our local community understand the complexities of memory loss. We specialize in helping families navigate the transition from independent living to specialized memory care. Our community is designed to provide a safe, loving environment where seniors can live with purpose and dignity. Our memory care program focuses on person-centered care, engaging activities, and a secure environment that feels like home.