Affected sense of orientation
Direction and spatial orientation are two skills we acquire during the very first years of our lives. Unfortunately, though, dementia can affect these functions as well. It usually translates into a sudden inability of recognizing familiar places and landmarks or having a hard time getting to a certain location (such as going home). This early symptom can also affect the person’s ability to follow directions to a new place or read a map.
ATTENTION! Since people with dementia can lack their sense of orientation, leaving them alone can become dangerous for their physical and mental health. If you suspect anyone around you is secretly dealing with this illness, please reach out and seek help for them.
Being repetitive
We’ve already discussed how people with early dementia can have a hard time adapting to changes in their routines. In fact, their subconscious becomes so attached to the routine they do know that they may start doing certain things repeatedly. Of course, short-term memory loss also plays a major role here since patients may simply not remember that they’ve already completed a certain task before.
Repetition can be observed in many ways. Some people may start showering multiple times a day because they don’t know they’ve already done so. Others, on the other hand, may start collecting certain things to the point it looks like an obsession. Another subtle indicator is when the person starts asking the same question multiple times during a conversation.
And since we’re talking about conversations…
8 Responses
Thank you for a wonderful article. I have Parkinson’s and this has helped me.
Peter J Klinski
My wife passed away in May, 2022, and I witnessed all the above mentioned symptoms. A very sad way to watch an intelligent educator spend their final days fighting this terrible disease. As a care giver, it truly breaks your heart watching the suffering.
Thank you for this article as I have he beginning stage of dementia.
Please text me, or just inform me of ANY new information’s ruin, as I believe, I may have the beginning of Alzheimer’s disease!!!
Any info, would be highly appreciated!!!!
My mother died from Alzheimer’s and it was sad to watch. At the end she didn’t know any of us. She eventually had to have a feeding tube. Now my youngest brother has frontotemporal dementia. I understand this is the worst kind. It must be very bewildering for the victim to go through such an illness. He recently slapped his wife and I don’t know how much longer she can care for him. I’m 87 and would try to care for him if I was younger but it looks as if he’ll have to go to a VA care center.
My husband has been diagnosed with early dementia. I could use any information that will help me help him.
Is Mild Cognitive Impairment the beginning of dementia?
Can I access previous info & articles at indulging health.com