Early Signs of Dementia You Need to Recognize

9. Poor Judgment and Decision-Making

Early dementia often affects the ability to make sound decisions, leading to choices that seem uncharacteristic or reckless. For example, someone who was once financially responsible may start spending excessively on unnecessary items or fall victim to scams. Others might wear inappropriate clothing for the weather, like a heavy coat on a hot day or shorts in the winter. Some may forget to pay their bills or neglect personal hygiene. These changes in judgment are linked to cognitive decline and should not be ignored if they become more frequent or severe.

10. Misplacing Items in Unusual Places

While everyone occasionally loses their keys or forgets where they placed their phone, dementia patients often misplace items in completely illogical locations. They might put their car keys in the fridge, store a wallet inside the bathroom cabinet, or place the remote control inside the microwave. They may also struggle to retrace their steps to find missing objects, often blaming others for taking or moving their belongings. This is a key indicator that short-term memory and problem-solving skills are deteriorating.