5 Symptoms of Early Onset Dementia

You may know someone who was diagnosed with a memory-related disease such as Alzheimer’s. Or it might be that you have a family member placed in a memory care facility. Perhaps you just want to be prepared as you or your spouse ages. Knowing the early onset dementia symptoms can be valuable to you and your family members. Awareness of a problem is the first step to getting help.

What is the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia?

Dementia is the broad overview term used for memory-related diseases. Alzheimer’s fits under that umbrella, accounting for 60-80% of cases. However, there are other memory-care diseases, such as vascular dementia, alcohol-related dementia, Parkinson’s dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. All of these are rooted in a different cause, so it’s important to know the distinctions. In addition, some health diagnoses can have symptoms that mimic dementia.

Vascular dementia is rooted in high blood pressure, for example, while Parkinson’s dementia is connected to a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. So it is important, upon first signs of any kind of dementia, to get an accurate diagnosis. This can mean the difference between getting the correct pharmaceutical treatment to getting into a drug trial that remarkably impacts your or a loved one’s quality of life.

What is Dementia?

Dementia is memory decline that is not reversible. It is a syndrome, not a disease, according to neurologist Ron Peterson of the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Memory decline associated with dementia is a catch-all term that can describe any number of losses related to mental functioning. These can include memory loss, but they can also include changes in personality or impaired ability to reason.

To be categorized as dementia, the functional decline must interfere with your or your loved one’s everyday life. Occasionally forgetting where you placed your keys or parked your car would not qualify as dementia.

While the process of aging tends to include some memory struggles, it’s important to note that remembering a person’s name or a password isn’t enough. The actual definition involves forgetfulness beyond what is expected from the normal aging process.

Five symptoms

1. A change in mood and/or personality

One of the earliest warning signs of dementia is if your family member’s personality shifts. For example, someone who was once outgoing and loved meeting new people is becoming increasingly shy and fearful of new situations. Depression can also be an early symptom of dementia. It’s usually easier to see these in someone else than it is to see them in oneself.

2. Apathy

A person with early onset dementia may seem listless, unenthusiastic, and uninterested in things that used to be fun to him or her. He or she may neglect family parties, stop gathering with the same group of friends, or decline invitations to video chat with grandchildren. An apathetic person may struggle to communicate well how he/she feels, but an observer may notice a “flat” personality and a lack of interest in previous hobbies.

3. Trouble finding accurate words

Stumbling to find a word is common if you’re talking about a movie title or a vocabulary word. But if your friend or family member stops mid-conversation without finishing a thought or has trouble communicating, it could be dementia.

4. Repetition

A person with dementia may repeat a story over and over or repeat a daily task. If your family member, for example, has already shaved and then he shaves again, it could be early memory loss related to dementia. Repeating the same questions in the same conversation is also another clue.

5. Poor judgment

Walking outside in a thunderstorm or wearing a parka in 90-degree weather is a sign that memory loss may be evident. When someone with dementia shows poor judgment, he or she could be putting himself or herself at risk. Consistent mismanagement of finances – such as giving away money to people he or she doesn’t know, or forgetting to pay bills that are piling up – is another sign that something is wrong.

What to do if you suspect early onset dementia in a loved one?

It’s important to remember that occasional lethargy, forgetfulness, and drops in mood are normal. But when you are seeing a rising amount of these, it’s time to contact your healthcare provider.

The doctor will likely refer you or your loved one to a neurologist. The neurologist will do a thorough exam to determine if the issues stem from dementia or some other cause. This exam may include memory and mental tests, a neurological exam, blood tests, and brain imaging tests.

If you or a loved one is diagnosed

Dementia typically impacts adults over the age of sixty-five, but even adults in their thirties, forties, or fifties can be diagnosed. The sooner you are diagnosed, the more likely you are to slow the progression of dementia. Treatments may include therapy, medication, and cognitive therapy.

How can you support someone with a dementia diagnosis?

Symptoms may be difficult for a family member to talk about, admit, or get help for – too often, there is a stigma around mental decline. Also, it can be scary for someone you love to realize they are aging and may need help. Many fear their loss of independence.

One of the most effective ways to support someone who is displaying symptoms is to help them see the value of healthcare. Simply making a doctor’s appointment or talking to a counselor can put fears to rest,

You might also offer to attend the appointment with your loved one if he or she feels nervous about it or admits to not seeing the problem. Providing perspective to the medical professional is helpful, so feedback from a loved one or a friend about changes in mood, personality, and everyday life helps.

If you are struggling with the possibility of early onset dementia symptoms, take heart. We have counselors who can help you prepare as you see medical providers; they can also walk you through the diagnosis and grief process. Learning how to handle your emotions and take care of your inner health is just as important as your physical health. Our counselors know how to help.

Contact a counselor now to help you as you navigate the aging process. Early onset dementia symptoms are not the end of living. Let the counselors at Texas Christian Counseling guide you through this time.