Early Signs of Dementia You Need to Recognize

5. Remembering Recent Events

Memory loss is the most characteristic symptom of dementia. In many cases, dementia patients will forget recent events, but they will remember things from years ago like they happened yesterday. Dementia patients might become confused enough to believe they're younger or interacting with people who have passed away. Difficulty remembering recent events isn't limited to just the 'forgetting people' experience. In the early stages of the disease, an affected individual might repeat a task several times after forgetting they have already done it. They might wash their face three times in the morning, change their clothes several times, or repeat tasks unnecessarily in the workplace. It's also common for individuals to forget events that just occurred. One example is getting gas and then forgetting if they closed the fuel gauge or not and repeating the action to make sure.

6. Difficulty Following Conversations

One of the early signs of dementia is struggling to keep up with conversations, particularly when they involve multiple people or complex topics. Individuals may frequently lose their train of thought, ask the same question repeatedly, or forget key details that were just mentioned. They might also struggle to find the right words, leading to pauses or sentences that trail off. As dementia progresses, it becomes increasingly difficult for affected individuals to follow fast-paced discussions, which can lead to frustration and social withdrawal. This symptom is often mistaken for simple forgetfulness or distraction, but when it begins interfering with everyday interactions, it is worth seeking medical advice.