Is Forgetfulness A Sign Of Coming Dementia? When Is It Time To Sound The Alarm? - The Quality Of Life

2023 Author: Oswald Adamson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 12:13

Senile (or senile) dementia is a complex, late-stage disease that cannot be treated. But there is also positive news: if you pay attention to the developing forgetfulness, namely the symptoms, in time (in the early stages), take the necessary measures, seek medical help, correct behavior, prevent the deterioration of the condition, then you can achieve certain success. Namely, to suspend the development of senile dementia

What to look for first of all?

Forgetfulness is considered one of the first signs of senile dementia. I think that each of us, regardless of gender and age, got into a situation where he could not find the word ("spinning on the tongue"), forgot someone's name, lost keys and other items in his own apartment, could not remember whether he turned off the iron / stove / water (underline as required).

Such forgetfulness can really happen to anyone: sometimes we are not attentive enough, we perform some actions automatically, think about other things, as a result we do not remember something important. It is worth starting to sound the alarm when cases where you forgot something and do not remember began to happen in your life more and more often.

For example, you check for a long time, several times, whether you turned off the stove, the light, leaving the house. This becomes a kind of ritual for you. Do not remember what you ate for breakfast yesterday or the day before yesterday, what you talked about with someone close to you or those you work with, you suddenly forgot which way you go to the office or where the boss’s office is. Such “forgetfulness” is difficult to explain by lack of attention. This can be regarded as the beginning of dementia.

Other symptoms of dementia

However, forgetfulness is not the only symptom of a person's dementia. As a rule, it goes hand in hand with certain changes in the psyche and behavior, to which it is impossible not to pay attention. For example, a person suddenly becomes anxious and even suspicious - he begins to see subtexts in the words of relatives and strangers. Suspicion develops, there are obvious mood swings and even signs of a depressive state.

Experienced severe stress and depression can trigger the onset of dementia - this is a scientifically proven fact

Another factor - a sudden change in personality and behavior - can also suggest that something has gone wrong. For example, a person has been very sociable all his adult life and then suddenly, in the blink of an eye, he became an introvert - he voluntarily avoids people, minimizes communication with friends. We can say that it goes into itself. The situation can be exactly the opposite: when an introvert in life suddenly becomes too sociable. Any serious changes in behavior, up to complete apathy and loss of interest in what used to be fascinating and was a hobby, which was given a lot of time and energy, against the background of forgetfulness, can be regarded as signs of progressive dementia.

Moreover, clear signs of dementia include aimless wobbling, when a person seems to have gone somewhere and even took a bag, but he does not remember where and why, so he just cuts circles around the mall. The frequent appearance in speech of lengthy digressions that are not logically connected with the general topic of the conversation, as a result of which a person himself cannot remember why he was telling all this here.

The tendency to accumulate things, transfer and hide objects is another sign of impending dementia, which at first looks very innocent. Just think, put a wallet, glasses or scissors so as not to lose, and then completely forget where. Or not throw away old, worn-out things that may still be useful and serve. And then these things and others that someone gave or they themselves were found in the nearest garbage dump, slowly but surely begin to pump into your house, because they are needed. These boards can be used to make a wonderful table / wardrobe / shelf, etc. Only nothing is done, but simply accumulated and stored around the perimeter of the apartment.

What to do if symptoms of early dementia are detected?

• See a doctor! And best of all with a written picture of the changes that are happening to you. In the literal sense, write down on a piece of paper the symptoms that you had to face, and come with this sheet to an appointment with a therapist or directly to a neurologist who can prescribe the necessary examinations for you, including an MRI of the brain and competent medication.
• Among other things, do not forget that your lifestyle largely determines the course of this disease. Alcohol and smoking abuse are serious aggravating factors. Therefore, it is worthwhile to specifically think about a healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition and taking vitamin complexes.
• Observe the regime! Sleep for the prescribed number of hours. Chronic lack of sleep has a detrimental effect on the functioning of the brain - first of all, those parts that are responsible for memory suffer.
• Move more! Walking is the kind of physical activity that suits everyone, without exception. It is walking that improves cerebral circulation and helps brain cells renew themselves.
• Don't give up on communication! For you, this is a kind of therapeutic technique that will allow you not to fall out of life and not get hung up on yourself.
• Develop your brain! It is scientifically proven that the brain does not lose its ability to learn throughout life. Therefore, read, memorize verses, learn new information and check how well it is deposited in your memory. A great way to make your brain work is to start learning a foreign language or force yourself to watch movies in the original language if the language is more or less familiar to you. Develop fine motor skills: drawing, beading, or just writing letters by hand is one of the most effective ways to start the process of restoring neural connections in the brain.
• Fight the disease comprehensively! Take it seriously. Nothing good will come of it if from all the recommendations you choose to take vitamins and work on fine motor skills, while leaving aside the rejection of bad habits, an active lifestyle and the pursuit of timely medical help.