Lots of people already know that memory issues can be a symptom of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, but there are some other symptoms that might be apparent early on. Recognizing these symptoms sooner can help aging adults ask their doctors questions that can help them identify health issues more quickly and hopefully get treatment sooner. Alzheimer’s care providers can offer support for families navigating the diagnosis process, too.
Personality and Mood Shifts
Sometimes people in the earliest stages of dementia experience personality changes and mood shifts that seem out of character for them. They might experience anger or frustration that they don’t understand, for instance. Or they may experience rapid mood shifts that don’t seem to make sense.
Digging deeper into what might have caused these issues is important to do.
Trouble with Abstract Concepts
Because dementia affects how the brain works, seniors might start to have trouble with more abstract concepts. For example, they may not understand jokes that their families have had as inside jokes for years. Or they may start to be more gullible or mistrustful than they have ever been in the past.
These are big changes that indicate seniors are thinking differently than they used to.
Changes in Appetite and Eating Habits
Eating habits and appetites change for so many different reasons. Sometimes seniors have trouble with food because of underlying physical health issues. Other times, the problems arise because it’s difficult for seniors to cook or to keep up with the logistics of making meals.
Alzheimer’s care providers can offer a lot of support with these situations. But it’s also important for families to get to the bottom of what’s causing these changes.
Trouble with Vision
Another unexpected change that might indicate dementia is that seniors have more trouble with their vision. These vision changes can affect balance, the ability to avoid obstacles, and can cause seniors to have trouble with spatial relations.
The issues might not be in the eyes, but instead in the areas of the brain that translate and calculate information that the eyes send to the brain.
Increase in Compulsive Behaviors
Seniors who never had to manage compulsive behaviors in the past may start to have trouble in this area. These might be behaviors like washing their hands repeatedly, locking the door a set number of times, or worrying about small issues. These compulsions might start out small, but gradually become more advanced as the dementia progresses.
Sometimes, seniors in the early stages of dementia engage in activities like hoarding because it is difficult for them to mentally let go of the items they’re holding onto physically.
Not every senior who is facing dementia experiences exactly the same symptoms in the same order. Staying alert for behavioral changes can help families to ask questions early enough to help seniors get treated for dementia or other cognitive illnesses. Alzheimer’s care providers can be there to offer support as seniors go through the process of getting diagnosed and learning to cope.
Providing exceptional Alzheimer’s Care in Ashburn, VA, for seniors and families in the Northern Virginia area, including Arlington, Alexandria, McLean, Reston, Burke, Ashburn, Centreville, Springfield, Manassas, and Oakton. Call today to speak with our caring staff: (703) 272-8838.
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