If you’re referring to the headline “10 Early Signs of Dementia You Should NEVER Ignore,” the warning is useful, but one important distinction is that these signs do not automatically mean someone has dementia. Dementia is diagnosed when cognitive problems become significant enough to interfere with everyday life, and other treatable conditions can cause similar symptoms.
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National Institute on Aging
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10 signs worth paying attention to
Memory loss that affects daily life
Repeatedly forgetting recently learned information, important events, or asking the same questions over and over.
Difficulty planning or solving problems
Trouble following a familiar recipe, managing bills, balancing a budget, or completing a familiar sequence of tasks.
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Alzheimer’s Association
Difficulty completing familiar tasks
Someone may struggle with an activity they’ve performed routinely for years—for example, using a familiar appliance or navigating a familiar process.
Confusion about time or place
Frequently losing track of dates, seasons or locations, or becoming lost in a familiar area.
Problems with language
Increasing difficulty finding ordinary words, following conversations, or expressing thoughts clearly. Speech changes can occur early in some forms of cognitive impairment.
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National Institute on Aging
Misplacing things and being unable to retrace steps
Everyone loses keys occasionally. A more concerning pattern is frequently putting things in unusual places and being unable to work backward to find them.
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National Institute on Aging
Poor judgment or decision-making
Uncharacteristic financial decisions, inappropriate behavior, or repeatedly making choices that seem clearly unsafe can be warning signs.
Withdrawal from activities
Losing interest in hobbies, social activities, work or family events that the person previously enjoyed can occur with cognitive decline.
Changes in mood or personality
New or unusual anxiety, suspicion, irritability, depression, fearfulness or personality changes deserve attention.
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Alzheimer’s Association
Problems with visual-spatial abilities
Difficulty judging distances, navigating familiar places, recognizing objects, or coordinating movements can occur in some dementias. Dementia can also cause balance and movement problems.
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National Institute on Aging
What’s normal aging—and what’s not?
Occasionally forgetting a name and remembering it later can be normal. Repeatedly forgetting important information and being unable to manage everyday activities is more concerning.
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National Institute on Aging
Also, dementia isn’t an inevitable part of getting older.
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National Institute on Aging
Don’t assume it’s dementia
Memory and thinking problems can sometimes be related to medication side effects, depression, metabolic or endocrine problems, vitamin deficiencies, sleep problems, or other medical conditions. A doctor can investigate these possibilities with a history, cognitive assessment and appropriate laboratory or other testing.
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National Institute on Aging
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The most important advice: if these changes are persistent, worsening, or interfering with everyday life, arrange a medical evaluation rather than simply dismissing them as aging. Early assessment can identify treatable causes and, when dementia is present, provide more time to plan and discuss treatment options.
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Alzheimer’s Association
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