Alzheimer’s disease is a disease in the brain that affects a person’s thinking, and memory. It is the most common form and common cause of dementia. Dementia, is a term used to describe the decline in a person’s mental ability. It describes the decline in their ability to think, remember, and communicate. Increase in age, genetics, family history, and diabetes are just some of the risk factors for dementia.

There are many early signs of dementia that can be very telling. These symptoms should not be ignored. Here are the most common early symptoms:

1. Memory loss
Memory loss is one of the most common, and most discussed signs of dementia. It is an early symptom of dementia. A patient may begin to forget answers to questions, information that was just received, dates, or important information that they would have otherwise remembered before. They may need to use tools to remember things, because they can no longer rely on their own memory. They may also repeat tasks or questions, because of the memory loss.

2. Speech difficulty
Another early sign of dementia is a new found speech difficulty. A patient may find that they have a difficult time holding a conversation, because they can’t remember names, words, or remember how to continue to engage in the current conversation.

3. Misplacement of Items
Misplacing items, and not having the ability to remember where the items were placed, is an early symptom of dementia. A patient may not know where the item was placed, or may have placed the item in an area that would be unusual for them.

4. Difficulty solving problems
Difficulty solving problems is an early symptom of dementia that is also common. A patient may find it difficult to work through and follow a plan, because of their lack of concentration and overall mental decline.

5. Confusion about time and place
Losing track of dates and time, is a common early sign of dementia. A patient may go somewhere but completely forget where they are, why they are there, and how they got there.

6. Poor judgement
An early sign of dementia also includes poor judgement. A patient may make poor judgement in decisions that may include their finances or safety. They may lack the ability to make decisions that are most appropriate for them.

7. Difficulty understanding visual information
Another early symptom of dementia is the new difficulty a patient may have understanding visual information. Dementia could affect the patient’s ability to detect movement, to verbally express what they have seen, and it affects their visual field. This difficulty could also cause a patient to bump into things because of dementia’s affect on their vision, and can also cause them to feel unfamiliar in places that usually feel familiar to them.

8. Changes in mood
Dementia can cause mood swings and changes in a person’s personality. A patient may switch moods fairly quickly. They may show sudden emotion or may lack emotion more than before. Anxiety and depression can be common, as well as anger and aggression.

9. Withdrawing from social activities
Withdrawing from social activities is an early symptom of dementia that can be associated with other symptoms. A patient may not participate in social activities, because they may begin to find it difficult to engage in conversations, and they may no longer be interested in the activities they used to be interested in.

If you have any concerns, it is always good to speak with your doctor.