11 Signs of Early-Onset Dementia

Jun 01, 2018

Early-onset dementia is a catch-all term that describes any type of dementia that develops in a patient who is under 65 years old. At least three different disorders fit that description. In an interview with “Bustle,” Dr. Howard Fillit of the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation commented, “The signs are generally the same, whether you develop Alzheimer’s in your 30s or 80s.” Here are some signs of early onset dementia to watch for: 

One of the early signs of dementia is difficulty with short-term memory. Some people describe this sign as “being unable to keep a thought in your head.” People with this sign can struggle for the right word or simply be extremely forgetful. 

People with dementia will often try to cope with confusion and a failing memory by sticking to a strict schedule. They will also be afraid to try anything new or otherwise deviate from their routine. 
 

Another sign of early-onset dementia is increasing difficulty with finding your way. A person with dementia is more likely to get lost, even when they’re going to a place they’ve visited many times. Some patients try to cope by using their GPS a lot. While everybody does get lost from times to time, you should take note if you are getting lost more and more often. 

Increased trouble with recall is another sign of dementia, and growing difficulty with remembering people’s names is a common form of that. 

While mood changes throughout the day can be normal, major personality shifts, such as shy to outgoing, are not. Such extreme changes in personality indicate changes within the brain that are causing a decreased awareness of social inhibitions. 

While occasional indecisiveness is normal, a person with dementia can suddenly be unable to plan or organize anything due to a decline of their “executive function,” which enables people to plan, focus and reason. Damage to the executive function can also prevent you from being able to concentrate sufficiently on multi-step tasks like getting dressed or cooking a meal. 

The most common sign of early-onset dementia is memory problems that interfere with day-to-day life. That can include things like forgetting the name of a favorite restaurant. 

As a dementia patient’s confusion worsens, they start forgetting how to do things like make a phone call. Similarly, they may forget where they are supposed to put their groceries or new clothes. If this happens to you, you need to talk to your doctor about it. 

As someone’s short-term memory deteriorates, they have trouble remembering what they have just read. Some dementia patients will take notes while they read to try to make themselves remember the plot of a novel. 

While many people have trouble learning something new, patients with dementia have a particularly tough time because of their memory problems.

People with dementia often become depressed as their condition worsens. In some cases, the patient starts getting depressed several months before they develop dementia. 
 

Do you know somebody with early-onset dementia? Do you agree with the above list? Let us know your thoughts and educate your friends and loved ones by passing this on! 

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation with your doctor. Your health is important to us!