Dementia describes a group of mental conditions typified by gradual cognitive decline and memory loss. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, followed by Lewy Body Dementia, Vascular Dementia, and Fronto Temporal Dementia.

Dementia is often associated with advanced age, but it can occur at almost any stage of a person’s life if they experience physical trauma (i.e., alcoholism), neurological damage or have a genetic predisposition to cognitive conditions. The following early warning signs can help people seek treatment for dementia:

1. Challenges understanding visual information
We often forget just how much is involved with vision. Our eyes take in a continual stream of visual data. But all of that information needs to be processed by multiple neural components. Even integrating the visual input of both our eyes into a singular whole requires a considerable amount of effort for our brain. Dementia can upset any part of this complex and interlocked system. The end result is highly dependent on which part of the brain has been impacted by the cognitive impairment. But in general, this will manifest in some measure of difficulty linking what we see with our interpretation of it.

2. Speech issues (aphasia)
Difficulties with verbal communication are usually one of the first symptoms of dementia. This results as dementias damage brain cells, causing a symptom known as aphasia, which affects speaking (i.e., remembering words) and understanding what is spoken (or processing speech from others). Aphasia is a progressive symptom, meaning it gets worse as dementia progresses. Proficiency with multiple languages will often decrease the overall rate of loss with one’s primary tongue, as will continued socialization and reading.

3. Memory loss
Memory loss is one of the most well-known warning signs of dementia. Usually friends and family are more likely to notice someone’s memory problems than the individual experiencing those problems. One of the main problems is that people can essentially forget that they’re forgetting things. Because of this, it’s important for loved ones to watch out for repetitive forgetfulness in friends and family who might be at risk for dementia. This is one of the symptoms most easily treated by dementia treatment options. Medications can help build up neurotransmitters related to memory. On top of this, people can also overcome many memory issues by simply writing down schedules and checklists. If someone’s accustomed to smartphones then this will open up even more options. Digital checklists that are automatically cleared each day will provide a lot of help to people with both short-term and long-term memory issues.

4. Problem solving difficulties
Consider just how many steps you need to take in order to get around a new and difficult situation. One larger issue with dementia typically involves the inability to work through many smaller steps to solve an overall issue. And on top of this, patients often forget the larger problem while working on the smaller components and become frustrated and agitated.

5. Confusion about time and place
Confusion regarding one’s location or the date can seem similar to memory issues. However, it’s a considerably more advanced form of dementia. What’s more, it’s typically intertwined with memory problems. This means that patients can experience fugue states, also called psychogenic fugue, which causes the patient to dissociate from their personal identity (i.e., their memories and personality traits) in a temporary amnesia. and other identifying characteristics of individuality. Again, identifying this symptom requires friends and family to keep track.