Some people might think that dementia is something that only happens in old age. But the truth is that it can happen at any time. Dementia symptoms often start off subtle, with experiencing forgetfulness or difficulty in concentration. As these symptoms worsen over time, they become more difficult to ignore.

The good news is that there are many things you can do to help prevent Dementia before it starts. In this blog post, we will discuss what the early warning signs of Dementia are and how you can work on its prevention. As a result, you can minimize the chances of ending up in a memory care facility or nursing home!

What is Dementia?

Dementia is a progressive disease that feels a lot like walking in the fog. The closer you get to your destination, the more difficult it becomes to know where you are going and what’s coming next. Dementia symptoms include impaired thought processes, communication skills, and memory loss. Often those suffering from Dementia will need 24-hour care to perform daily activities.

Some of the early signs of dementia

Signs of dementia can be pretty subtle but if you pay close attention, they can be identified. Let’s have a look at what those signs look like:

• Confusion

Confusion is one of the many signs of Dementia. In its early stages, confusion may be a sign that someone’s memory or thinking has lapsed. It indicates they can no longer remember faces or find words to interact with people.

One example would be – someone misplacing car keys in an environment where there are many cars parked together. This person might not recall which vehicle belongs to them. Then it may lead to struggling in remembering what comes next on the day’s agenda!

• Subtle short-term memory changes

This is one of the most common signs that a person may have Dementia. The changes are often subtle. And tends to involve forgetting things in close proximity. Such as what they ate for breakfast or where they placed their glasses.

They might also find it difficult to remember why they entered certain rooms. Also, forget if there was any specific reason behind wanting something – like food or books.

• Changes in personality

As a person with Dementia age, they may find themselves becoming more impatient. They get frustrated due to difficulties in accomplishing tasks that once felt easy. Not being able to recall something from their past can irritate them too.

Sometimes, people with Dementia tend to cry when they feel overwhelmed. But it is totally fine. Because it helps release some of the pent-up frustration building inside them.

• Difficulty in completing normal tasks

For many, it seems like a subtle shift in the ability to complete normal tasks may be an indication of early Dementia. This usually starts with difficulty doing more complex tasks. For example, balancing your checkbook or playing games that have a lot of rules. Apart from this, they often struggle to learn how to do new things. As well as follow new routines while juggling them alongside old ones.

• Apathy

Apathy is one of the early warning signs of Dementia, and the results can be devastating. They may lose interest in their hobbies or activities they once loved. Especially during those treasured moments with friends and family. For example, an avid quilter might give up on her love for sewing because she forgets how to thread the needle. Or playing chess with a dear friend because they cannot remember the rules!

Prevention Techniques

Some simple everyday habits and activities can keep Dementia at bay. So let’s have a look at some of the preventive measures for the disease:

• Stay physically active

One of the best ways to reduce the risk of Dementia is through regular physical activity. It’s beneficial on so many levels. Such as blood circulation, weight, and mental well-being are all helped by being active! The key here is finding an exercise that fits you best.

Try starting off small – maybe 10 minutes at a time and gradually build up from there. Even doing simple daily activities makes a difference in deterring cognitive decline later on. Such as cooking, gardening, or walking around!

• Eat a balanced diet

Studies have found that diet can affect the aging brain and how it thinks or memorizes things. The benefits of eating healthier with a varied diet lower in fat or calories are pretty clear. It includes a reduced risk for dementia as well as other related conditions. Such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, obesity, or stroke.

Food that is high in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins can cut the risk of dementia. So try including a lot of leafy vegetables, whole grains and protein in your everyday diet.

• Get rid of harmful habits

As scary as it sounds – a good number of people develop Dementia because of unhealthy habits. For example, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, unhealthy sleep schedules, and so on.

Smoking doubles the risk for Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of Dementia. Alcohol can damage brain cells leading to impaired memory or other cognitive problems. They can also lead to developing underlying symptoms. Such as disorientation, depression, and anxiety disorders. Too much caffeine consumption also poses risks of increasing blood pressure within seconds. So beware before that morning cup turns dangerous!

• Keep your mind active

Accumulating intellectual stimulation can help build up the brain’s ability to cope with dementia. Some of the easy ways are – learning languages, doing puzzles, crosswords, or reading books! But the key here is to not just do things that are difficult but find something enjoyable. So that it challenges us mentally on a regular basis for the brain to stay sharp.

• Stay socially involved

Studies have found that time spent socializing can lower the risks of developing Dementia. It can be done by engaging with other people as much as possible throughout the day. So try talking to colleagues or spend some time with your family or do something fun with friends.

By doing these, you are lowering your chances of developing Dementia later in life! Because these social interactions stimulate mental activity and keep our brains healthy.

Conclusion

We are all curious about what will happen to our minds as we age. Is it possible for older adults to maintain their sharpness and memory? The answer is a resounding yes! Some lifestyle changes, exercise, eating healthy, and maintaining social ties can lower your risk of dementia. But pay attention if you notice any of the early signs of Dementia as mentioned above. If they are impacting your daily activities significantly, get evaluated by a professional. So they can help diagnose concerns before further damage occurs!

References:

• Leonard, W., 2018. Dementia Symptoms: Signs, Breakdown by Type, and Alzheimer’s.
• Alzheimer’s Society. n.d. Physical exercise and dementia.  Hayward-zeelie, C., 2021. Fight Dementia with the 15 Best and 5 Worst Foods
• BoomersHub Blog. [online] BoomersHub Blog.