5 symptoms that could indicate that a person has or is developing dementia

As time goes by and people get older, some symptoms related to old age like forgetting things or having less concentration during the day. And although in general they are typical of the era, Certain signs could indicate the development or presence of dementia .

Forgetfulness is usually the warning sign that most people associate with dementia. However, experts say that They are not the main symptom of this neurodegenerative disease.

And that’s it Having memory problems may be a symptom of other health changes or even just having a bad day.

It is for this reason that the various experts who spoke with The New York Times determined what are the 5 little-known symptoms of dementia that could indicate that a person has this disease.

People with dementia They may begin to have problems with their money due to cognitive symptoms. what this disease causes.

For example, poor memory can cause an adult to forget to pay utility bills or go over their monthly budget.

According to the professor of neurology at University of California, Winston Chiong , One of the first areas of the brain affected is cognition. And this is where humans work, among other things, on financial management.

Furthermore, the specialist added that Making poor financial decisions can mainly affect patients suffering from frontotemporal dementia, a rare form of the disease that causes impaired judgment at an early stage.

In this line, These are generally people who are “sensitive to different types of manipulation”. or they may be “more likely to waste or neglect their money,” the doctor said. The New York Times.

We know that As we age, sleep problems appear and become more severe. Older people tend to go to bed earlier, but wake up much earlier than in their youth.

Nevertheless, If the change is too drastic, it could be a sign of dementia.

For example, if the person starts waking up at 3 a.m. or cannot stay awake during the day.

Considering this, the academic in neurology of the Stanford University, Joe Winner he said New York Times that The first areas of the brain affected by Alzheimer’s disease are “very important for regulating sleep and wake cycles.”

“So, years before a person shows signs of memory symptoms, they may experience changes in their sleep patterns.”

Before being diagnosed, dementia patients may suffer slight changes in your personality: they turn less extroverted, pleasant and conscientious before starting to show signs of cognitive decline, study finds.

The academic of behavioral sciences and social medicine of Florida State University, Angelina Sutin explained that These changes accelerate as new symptoms of dementia appear.

That’s to say, A person with dementia may begin to withdraw or withdraw from friends. According to the expert, who is also the author of the study, those around him will realize that “he no longer goes out as often” before understanding that “his memory has diminished”.

Also, in the case of frontotemporal dementia, The person may become less friendly, less trusting and friendly, become increasingly disorganized, or have difficulty completing tasks. at work or at home.

Driving a vehicle is one of the most difficult and complex cognitive behaviors what people do every day, the neurology professor told University of Washington, Ganesh Babulal has New York Times.

The expert found that Having difficulty completing this task is often one of the first signs of dementia since driving “is the definitive mix of the cognitive system”.

This alarm is dangerous because If something doesn’t work well in the brain, “the driver loses control and runs the risk of having an accident or collision.”

People close to a patient who may have dementia can Look for scratches on the car, signs of a minor collision, or notice if the person runs red lights or stop signs. to understand what might be causing the illness.

Babulal explained that drivers with dementia may stop driving out of fear especially at night, in bad weather or in heavy traffic. They may also feel uncomfortable bringing their grandchildren or other passengers on board.

Finally, there is loss of sense of smell. Our olfactory system is linked to certain parts of the brain which are often the first areas affected by dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and even Parkinson’s disease.

This is why research shows that People with dementia often lose their sense of smell years or decades before the best-known symptoms of neurodegeneration appear.

For example, it is common for a person with dementia to be able to detect a smell, but have a habit of identifying them incorrectly.

Ronald Postuma, professor of neurology and neurosurgery at McGill University illustrates that Patients may say, “What a nice smell.” It smells so good. “It must be gasoline.”