Chicago Home and Lifestyles – Watching for signs of Dementia

We all forget where our keys and glasses are. Having your glasses on your head without realizing it is not a sign of dementia! But finding them in the freezer might be. 

There is also a disorder often misdiagnosed as early onset Alzheimer’s called Frontotemporal Dementia. It is usually diagnosed between the ages of 40-45, so we need to keep an eye out for signs of cognitive problems in our family members. Sixty percent of people with dementia symptoms go unreported! This can result from misdiagnosis, or simply shame and denial. Families need to know what their family members “normal” looks like and pay attention to times they deviate. 

As people, we have a tendency to try and hide our decline. Here are some red flags to look for:

Changes in physical appearance. A person who is usually meticulous about their appearance may suddenly become unkempt. 

Changes in personality. Becoming quick to anger or saying things that are inappropriate. 

Memory loss that severely affects daily life. You might also see notes around their home reminding them of simple tasks. You notice bills not being paid or perhaps double paid. They may miss appointments. They may have driving issues like fender benders or forgetting where they park or taking longer to travel to known locations because they forget where they are going. A person may say they want to make a phone call and pick up the TV remote. 

It is always good to get help early. It’s hard but you may need to take the car away if you are worried, as they may hurt themselves or others. Sometimes a partner is the one hiding the symptoms by covering for their loved one, so they finish sentences and take care of chores. They can often be a hindrance to really getting to the root of the problem. If you think something is wrong, talk about it. Find resources. It is worse to ignore it, do not be scared and push it away. Check out https://www.alz.org to get information and direction if you think you or a family member may have symptoms!

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago