With age, we are more likely to develop mental health conditions known as dementia. It is not a specific disease, but a group of diseases characterized by impairment of at least two brain functions, such as memory loss and judgment. Studies suggest that before the onset of dementia, there are some subtle warning signs. While this mental illness cannot be cured or prevented, starting treatment early can help you manage it in a better way. Here are 5 early warning signs of dementia.
Inability to detect speech
According to a new study by Oxford researchers, the inability to detect speech in a noisy environment can also mean an increased risk of dementia. The inability to detect speech can generally be considered a sign of hearing impairment, but Oxford researchers have also linked it to dementia. According to the researchers, those who struggled to hear in a strong environment were twice as likely to suffer from dementia than those who had no difficulty hearing.
Memory loss
Memory loss is one of the initial symptoms of dementia. A person about to develop this condition often has difficulty retrieving information. Rely on family and friends to keep track of these details. People who occasionally forget about an incident and later remember it are not characterized by dementia. It’s just an age-related issue.
It is difficult to carry out daily family tasks
With dementia, performing even basic tasks like making a cup of tea and running a computer becomes difficult. These are some of the tasks you may have done for several years, but which are difficult to complete. You may face this difficulty at work or at home.
Struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word
People with dementia may also have difficulty conversing or expressing their thoughts in words. They may forget what they were talking about or what the other person has said. Having a conversation with that person can be difficult and can take longer to conclude. Even many people start spelling incorrectly or make grammatical mistakes or their letter becomes difficult to read.
Change of mood
You can easily identify the signs of dementia by frequent mood swings. Sometimes you may feel cheerful and full of life while others may seem gloomy. There would be a gradual change in personality, which would be quite evident. People with depression are also at risk of developing this condition.