What are the early symptoms of dementia?
The line between the early stages of dementia and normal health is said to be quite vague
Let me tell you in advance that if you develop dementia, the benefits of starting treatment at an early stage are enormous
As dementia progresses and symptoms become more severe, the expected effectiveness of treatment inevitably decreases
Here we will explain the early symptoms of dementia and what measures should be taken
This article is recommended for the following people:
- I want to know about the early symptoms of dementia
- I want to know effective methods for preventing dementia
- I want to know what happens as dementia progresses
- Have a family member who may have dementia?
If you would like to know more about the early symptoms of dementia and what measures you should take, please refer to this article
*If you have a family member who may have dementia, we urge you to take action early
Early detection can of course improve treatment outcomes for the patient and also significantly reduce the burden on family members
Advice from a doctor can give the whole family time to think about how they will deal with dementia and what the future holds
I hope this article will help you think about countermeasures
table of contents
What are the main early symptoms of dementia?
Early detection and treatment of dementia can help slow the progression of symptoms
If you put off seeing a doctor, the condition will progress and symptoms will become more difficult to improve, so it is important to see a doctor early. In order to seek medical attention early, it is important to understand the main symptoms of dementia
Early symptoms of dementia include:
Early symptoms of dementia checklist
- Feeling depressed easily
- utter abusive language
- Use violence
- Becoming irritable
- Unable to do housework or cook
- Losing things
- I can't keep my promises
- Saying the same thing over and over again
- Asking the same thing over and over again
If any of these apply to you, we recommend you seek medical advice early。
If you suspect dementia..
Even if I go to the doctor early, what should I do?
Which medical facility should I go to?
I think there are a certain number of people who suspect that their loved one has dementia but don't know what to do
If dementia is suspected based on early symptoms and the checklist,We recommend that you visit a medical institution that specializes in dementia, such as a forgetfulness clinic
Please check to see if there are any medical institutions near your home that provide dementia consultations
Alternatively, you can consult your family doctor
For example, in Tokyo, dementia training has been provided to family doctors in recent years, and some of them have acquired the knowledge necessary for appropriate dementia treatment
Since they are aware of the patient's health condition, why not try relying on them?
The patient does not want to go for a checkup
A common case is when someone suspected of having dementia decides that a hospital visit is not necessary and is reluctant to go
When talking about dementia, communication with patients is inseparable; it is a very sensitive and important topic
It is the patients themselves who feel the most anxiety, such as being unable to do things they were able to do before, or forgetting memories from just a short time ago
It is possible that the patient's mental state may not be normal, so instead of forcing them to go to the hospital, try to respond in a way that keeps them calm and puts them at ease
You may also want to consult your family doctor as mentioned above
If your child shows resistance to invitations from their family, it may be a good idea to have someone outside the family suggest that they come for a consultation
Above all, it is important to be considerate so that the person can act comfortably
Dementia is divided into core symptoms and peripheral symptoms
We have explained the early symptoms, but what other symptoms will occur as dementia progresses?
Symptoms of dementia are divided into core symptoms and peripheral symptoms
Core symptoms are those resulting from cognitive decline
The main symptoms include memory loss, disorientation, impaired executive function, and impaired judgment
On the other hand, peripheral symptoms are symptoms that arise as a result of the interaction of core symptoms, psychological factors, physical factors, and environmental factors
We will now explain each in more detail in the following sections
About core symptoms
We will explain the main core symptoms
Impaired comprehension and judgment
Your ability to properly understand and judge things is diminished
For example, it becomes difficult to perform tasks that require "understanding and judgment," such as driving a car or crossing a traffic light or railroad crossing
Aphasia/agnosia/apraxia
They will no longer be able to understand or express language, or correctly perceive information obtained through their eyes
It also makes it difficult to perform the correct movements
Executive dysfunction
Your ability to plan and organize your activities will decrease
They will no longer be able to cook, do math, or change their shirt
Disorientation
People with disorientation have difficulty accurately identifying people around them, time, and place
For example, they may lose the ability to distinguish between day and night, or become confused about where they are. They may also lose track of their family members and perceive them as strangers
Memory impairment
You lose all your memories of the past
You may find it difficult to remember new things or forget who you last spoke to
You may also find it difficult to remember the names of things
Peripheral symptoms
We will explain the main details of peripheral symptoms
hallucinations
You may see or hear things that are not possible in reality
The furniture in your home may appear to be people, and you may feel as if strangers are talking to you
Delusion
They mistakenly believe that their personal belongings have been stolen and become increasingly paranoid
You become convinced that something has happened that simply could not happen in reality
Wandering around and getting lost when out
When you go out, you may get lost on a route you are familiar with
It can be disorienting and you may not know where you are
As a result, they may wander around and get lost
Apathy, anxiety, depression
When it interferes with daily life, you may feel lethargic and depressed
They lose interest in things they were previously interested in, and experience insomnia and loss of appetite
Refusal to receive care
People may refuse care due to feelings of guilt for causing trouble to others or stress from not being able to act the way they want to
verbal abuse and violence
Anxiety, impatience, poor health, or an inability to control emotions can lead to verbal abuse or violence
What diseases cause dementia?
There are four diseases that can cause dementia
We will explain each type separately, so please make sure you understand them
Alzheimer's disease
It is the most common cause of dementia
The disease develops when a protein called amyloid beta accumulates in the brain for some reason, destroying nerve cells and causing the brain to shrink
The main symptoms include impaired executive function, disorientation, and memory loss
Dementia with Lewy bodies
This is a disease in which proteins called Lewy bodies accumulate in the brain and destroy nerve cells
Similar to Alzheimer's disease, it causes impairment of executive function, disorientation, and memory loss
vascular dementia
This is a disease caused by cerebrovascular disorders such as cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral infarction, which prevent oxygen and nutrients from reaching nerve cells, resulting in numbness and paralysis of the limbs and difficulty controlling emotions
frontotemporal dementia
This is a disease that destroys nerve cells, primarily in the temporal and frontal lobes
Symptoms include repetitive behavior and speech problems
How can dementia be prevented?
There is still no clear method known to prevent dementia
Aging is generally considered to be a cause of dementia, as brain function generally declines with age
However, people who suffer from lifestyle-related diseases tend to be more susceptible to developing dementia
Improving your living environment can also be a way to prevent dementia, so please refer to the following
Talk to others
Talking and communicating with others stimulates the brain, helping to prevent a decline in brain function
Eating or watching a movie while chatting with family, friends, and acquaintances can also help prevent mental health problems
Eat a balanced diet
Lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes and arteriosclerosis may increase the risk of developing dementia
Eat a nutritionally balanced diet to prevent lifestyle-related diseases
Exercise moderately
Moderate exercise improves blood circulation throughout the body and prevents a decline in brain function
Even a simple walk is fine. Regular exercise also helps activate the brain, so make sure to exercise consciously
summary
This time we explained the early symptoms of dementia and what measures should be taken
Correct understanding will lead to early detection
If you notice any symptoms of dementia, we recommend that you seek medical attention as soon as possible
Early detection and improvement can provide financial and mental relief for both the patient and their family
Dementia prevention can be implemented in our daily lives
By eating a proper diet and exercising moderately, you can prevent lifestyle-related diseases and try to prevent dementia