Dementia affects everyone differently; however, there are a few common symptoms that can alert you to the possibility that dementia may be rearing its ugly head. The important thing to remember is not to panic. It is important to know the differences between symptoms of early stage dementia compared to having a typical “senior moment.”

There are many reasons people may become forgetful; lack of sleep, dehydration, stress, to name a few. However, these causes of memory loss are usually temporary and will affect a person until resolved. These are not early signs of dementia, although forgetfulness is a common sign of early stage dementia. It is important to ask yourself, are these symptoms affecting you or your loved one’s ability to function in everyday life, on a continuous basis.

For example, a bill at a restaurant comes out to $35.89. Your mom pulls out $20 and tries to pay for the meal and then laughs when you tell her it isn’t enough money and is able to readily correct the problem, this is not necessarily a concern She may have slept poorly the night before because of her arthritis, or her husband’s snoring. However, if your mom pulls out a $20 bill and cannot figure out what to do next, how to calculate how much more money to pull out, or generally can’t recognize how to pay the bill at all, and this happens repeatedly in several different settings, there may be a reason to be concerned.

Below is a list of 10 general symptoms of dementia:

1. Memory problems that affect daily life, such as important dates, routes traveled regularly, where you left important items, names and faces of friends, neighbors or co-workers.
2. Difficulty problem solving or planning
3. Problems finding the right word
4. Confusion about time and place
5. Poor judgement
6. Visuospatial difficulties, such as increasing clumsiness
7. Misplacing things
8. Changes in mood
9. Loss of initiative
10. Personality changes

Keep in mind, that any of these symptoms can be symptoms of many different diseases, or symptoms of something as simple as lack of sleep. It is important to remember that symptoms of dementia are progressive, they get worse as time goes on, and they effect a person’s ability to function in their normal daily lives. Also, in order to be diagnosed with dementia, an individual needs to demonstrate a minimum of two of these symptoms. If you are concerned about your loved one, please see a doctor immediately to rule out any other health concerns.