While some decrease in memory is normal as you get older, issues that interrupt your daily routine could be more serious. You might have difficulty performing familiar tasks you do all the time, such as making your favorite recipe or playing your favorite game, or you could start forgetting events. Early dementia might cause you to rely more heavily on reminders for everyday tasks, such as taking your medications.
If it seems like you're forgetting more things than normal, it could be an indicator that you have dementia. This is particularly true if you forget recent things you learned or heard. In the early stages of dementia, people often can recall events, memories or conversations that happened long ago but can't remember things that happened that day. It can also be a concerning sign if other people in your life start noticing your memory loss. Forgetting things can be subtle in the early stages of dementia, but it can get worse over time as dementia progresses.
Comprehending time, including how time passes and what day or season it is, could become more difficult with dementia. Normal issues with time might include forgetting what day it is for a minute but figuring it out quickly. Dementia makes it more difficult to sort out your understanding of time, either on the clock or on the calendar.
Getting lost because of difficulty comprehending location can also start early in dementia. You might suddenly find yourself getting lost on routes you take frequently, such as your way to work or your favorite grocery store. Some people even get lost on their own street or can't remember how they got to their current location. This sign can be troubling, but it can also put you in danger if you can't find your way back home or end up in a risky location.
Everyone misplaces their keys occasionally, but dementia can cause these incidents to happen more frequently. When you do find your missing belongings, they might be in strange places, like keys in your freezer or the remote in your car — places that aren't logical for those items. People with dementia have trouble retracing their steps to find the items once they realize they're misplaced.
Dementia can affect your problem-solving or decision-making skills. You might find it difficult to figure out basic problems, or it could require more concentration to do things that once came naturally. This could look like wearing clothes that are completely wrong for the weather. Planning things can also become more challenging with dementia. It's normal to make a few mistakes here and there, but repeated or ongoing issues with handling basic tasks that take reasoning or problem-solving skills should be something you mention to your doctor.
You might start to have difficulty following conversations if you're showing the early signs of dementia. It can also make it more difficult to think of the words you want to say, especially if you can't come up with common words you use frequently. Some people might substitute other words that don't make sense if they can't come up with the correct word.
Spatially, you might not be able to understand images well or the spatial relationships between items. You could misjudge the distance to an object you see ahead of you. This can also affect your coordination and movement, which can cause you to have difficulty navigating even familiar environments.
Dementia can cause your mood or personality to change. Other people might notice this symptom if you start acting differently. Some people withdraw from social activities or lose interest in activities and people they normally enjoy due to their memory loss. Others might feel angry or anxious if they're afraid they're developing dementia. Inappropriate behaviors might start to show up, or you might start to feel paranoid. Dementia might also cause people to resist change. They want to stick to their routine as much as possible because they're afraid of the memory loss that they're experiencing and don't want any new experiences.
Memory loss due to dementia can cause people to repeat things. These can be things you say or things you do. For instance, you might repeat a personal care task like brushing your teeth because you forgot you already did it. In conversations, you might tell the same story over and over to the same person, or you could ask questions you've already had answered for you.
