1. A key indicator that forgetfulness and confusion may be early signs of dementia is when they start affecting a person's daily life.
2. Early warning signs of dementia include frequent memory loss, as opposed to the occasional forgetfulness that comes with normal ageing.
Another warning sign is experiencing increased difficulty in planning or solving problems, and having difficulty completing previously familiar tasks.
Frequent confusion about the time and place, having trouble understanding pictures and judging distance, and problems with speaking and writing are also early signs of dementia.
Lastly, often misplacing items, having decreased or poor judgement, withdrawing from social activities, and becoming easily agitated, depressed and suspicious, are other common dementia symptoms.
3. Early diagnosis and treatment of dementia can help those affected and their loved ones to adapt more easily to the condition and receive the support to maximise quality of life.
Forgetfulness is part of everyday life, especially as we age. However, it can be a warning sign for early dementia if forgetfulness and confusion starts affecting daily activities.
We have all encountered instances where we forgot a person’s name or misplaced certain items, but when is forgetfulness due to normal ageing and when could it be a sign of early dementia? Read on to find out.
“Memory lapses can be a normal part of life, especially as we age. A key warning sign that it may be an early sign of dementia is when forgetfulness and confusion affect daily activities,” explains Dr Ng Kok Pin, Senior Consultant from the Department of Neurology at National Neuroscience Institute (NNI), a member of the SingHealth group.
Dementia describes a group of symptoms such as memory loss, impaired judgment, confusion and behavioural changes, which are severe enough to cause loss of function.
Dementia is not part of normal aging, though the elderly are more prone. Dementia occurs when the brain function gradually fails, affecting day-to-day activities. Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia.
Early diagnosis and treatment of dementia can help patients and their families adapt to their condition and receive the support they need to maximise their quality of life with dementia.
Early dementia symptoms vs normal ageing
1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life
Forgetting information you have recently learnt
Forgetting important dates or events, e.g. birthdays and appointments
Asking the same question repeatedly
Having to rely more on memory aids, e.g. sticky notes, reminders
Normal ageing: Sometimes forgetting names or appointments but remembering them later.
2) Difficulty planning or solving problems
Problems following a plan, e.g. a familiar recipe
Difficulty with numbers, e.g. tracking monthly expenses
Taking longer to do things than before
Normal ageing: Making occasional mistakes when managing finances or household bills.
3) Difficulty completing familiar tasks
At work, e.g. arranging a meeting
At home, e.g. writing a grocery list, driving to familiar locations
For leisure, e.g. following the rules of games such as mahjong and golf
Normal ageing: Occasionally needing help to use an electrical appliance or forgetting an item from the grocery list.
4) Confusion with time or place
Trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately
Forgetting where you are or how you got there
Normal ageing: Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later.
5) Trouble understanding pictures and distance
Difficulty reading
Problems judging distance, e.g. when parking a car
Problems seeing colours or contrast affecting driving ability
Normal ageing: Poor vision caused by eye conditions such as cataracts
6) Problems with speaking or writing
Trouble following a conversation
Stopping in the middle of a conversation
Difficulty finding the right word and/or names of familiar objects
Normal ageing: Sometimes having problems finding the right word, especially words that are not used often.
7) Misplacing items
Losing items and being unable to retrace steps to find them again
May accuse others of stealing, especially as dementia progresses
Normal ageing: Misplacing things such as keys or pens from time to time and being able to retrace steps to find them
8) Decreased or poor judgement
Poor judgement when dealing with money
Paying less attention to self-care and grooming
Normal ageing: Making a mistake once in a while
9) Withdrawal from work or social activities
Giving up usual hobbies
Avoiding usual social activities with family or friends
Normal ageing: Sometimes feeling uninterested in family or social gatherings
10) Changes in mood and personality
Becoming confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious
Easily upset or agitated
Normal ageing: Has a usual way of doing things and becoming irritated when routine is disrupted.
If you or a loved one displays any of the above-mentioned signs, do visit your family doctor or a polyclinic for further assessment.
Watch the video!
Ref: K21
Related articles:
6 Natural Ways to Prevent Dementia
7 Ways to Keep Your Mind Sharp
Young Onset Dementia: Dementia That Affects the Young
Dementia in Singapore: Fast Facts
Dementia: What You Need to Know
Dementia Caregiver Tips: Do's and Don'ts
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