Surprising Dementia Signs You Might Have Missed

March 28th, 2017 by admin

As the only top 10 cause of death in the U.S. that can't be prevented, slowed, or cured, Alzheimer's disease is a big worry for many seniors. But dementia diseases like Alzheimer's are not restricted to older folks; the truth is that people in their 40s and 50s can also develop these conditions, and because early onset isn't as common, the warning signs are often easy to miss. Regardless of age, recognizing the symptoms of dementia can be a pivotal part of ensuring that you or your loved one can receive proper attention and care.

Caring for someone with dementia can certainly be a challenge, but if you're able to recognize the warning signs early enough, you'll be in a better position to make important decisions about whether memory care communities might be an appropriate option for the future. Staff members at Alzheimers care centers can help you come up with a care plan for dementia and learn more about these conditions.

But before you create a dementia care plan, you first need to become familiar with some of the less-obvious signs of dementia. When forgetfulness and agitation are coupled with these other warning signs, a dementia condition may be the reason behind them all. Keep a close eye out for these surprising signs you may be otherwise likely to miss.

Changing Tastes

Food preferences have a tendency to change as we gain experience and go through hormonal changes, but if you have a sudden new craving for sweet treats, this is a possible early warning sign of dementia. One Japanese study found that these conditions change the parts of the brain that relate to your taste buds and relative appetite. Some people with dementia have actually been known to eat rotten or expired food, and others may try to eat inanimate objects or paper. Many Alzheimer's patients will eat more than seniors of the same age but will still tend to lose weight. Although Alzheimers care centers will address nutritional needs and will keep patients safe, prior to that stage, watch for an increased love of sugar or odd food-related behaviors.

Criminal Acts

Strange as it may sound, an early sign of dementia is newfound involvement in criminal behaviors like stealing or trespassing. Frontotemperal Dementia, specifically, effects older adults' ability to discern right from wrong and will impact the part of the brain that helps with decision-making. As a result, these dementia sufferers often act on these criminal impulses and aren't able to recognize why their behaviors are improper. If someone you love has started stealing from stores or has engaged in other criminal behaviors, this may explain why.

Misunderstood Sarcasm

Interestingly enough, many dementia sufferers are unable to recognize sarcasm or lies in direct encounters. Research has found that Alzheimer's patients and people with Frontotemporal disease can't recognize these forms of "insincere speech," likely because the short term memory and verbal interpretation centers of the brain are impacted by these diseases. If your loved one seems to take every joke you make as truth or sarcasm seems to go over their head, this may be a cause to consider.

Hoarding Items

Compulsive behaviors like hoarding have been shown to have dementia links. Although these behaviors may have started in a natural way, dementia sufferers may take their hoarding to an extreme, causing their environment to become unhealthy or unsafe. Some people buy and save certain objects to provide a sense of security and ritual, while others aren't able to remember taking items or where they put them. When family members try to remove this clutter, it may set off an extremely emotional response in someone with dementia. The staff at Alzheimers care centers will be able to help patients with these behaviors later on. If you notice your loved one has recently become a pack rat, it may be worth figuring out why.

If your loved one is showing any of these warning signs, you should investigate further. For patients with dementia diseases, Alzheimers care centers can allow them to enjoy their lives for a longer period of time and get the personalized attention they need. For more information, contact White Birch Communities today.

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