It’s natural to think of memory loss when you hear the word “dementia,” as it is one of the major symptoms associated with the condition. However, it is just one of the many symptoms that can affect individuals living with dementia.
Understanding potential dementia symptoms and how they could impact your loved one is key to providing proper care. The team at The Grove on Forest Lane is trained on what to look for among various dementia behaviors and adjusts their level of support accordingly. Our memory care and assisted senior living community in Dallas, Texas, wants to help you learn more about what you can expect from this condition by sharing some of the other dementia symptoms beyond memory loss.
Understanding the Basics of Dementia
The National Institute on Aging defines dementia as “the loss of cognitive functioning – thinking, remembering, and reasoning – to such an extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities.”
Dementia is a progressive condition, with symptoms worsening over time. Therefore, an early diagnosis is vital to managing symptoms and potentially delaying further cognitive decline.
In addition, dementia is a blanket term used to describe multiple conditions that affect cognitive functioning. Each type of dementia can affect different parts of the brain and cause symptoms specific to that type. Some of the common types include:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Vascular dementia
- Lewy body dementia
- Frontotemporal dementia
- Mixed dementia
Dementia Symptoms Beyond Memory Loss
Confusion with Time or Place
The Alzheimer’s Association shares that “people living with Alzheimer’s [or another type of dementia] can lose track of dates, seasons, and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there.”
Individuals living with a form of dementia may forget where they are, even if they are in a familiar place. Because this condition usually affects short-term memory first, it is common for individuals to believe they are living in a year that has long since passed or in a house they have not lived in for years, for instance.
Difficulty with Language
We all have trouble finding the right words at times, but for a person living with dementia, this happens more frequently and on a higher level. “A person living with dementia may forget simple words or may substitute words such that what they are saying is difficult to understand (alzheimer.ca).”
While it seems like a natural part of everyday life to many of us, holding a conversation requires more effort than we may realize. Not only do we have to listen and process what the other person is saying, but we also have to form a relevant response while remembering what has already been said so we refrain from repeating ourselves. This happens quickly and becomes increasingly complicated as more people are added to the conversation.
This can be a challenge for a person living with dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association explains, “people living with Alzheimer’s [or another form of dementia] may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves.”
Changes in Mood or Personality
Changes in a person’s mood, shifts in their personality, and a loss of interest in the things they once enjoyed are also signs of dementia. For example, a person living with dementia may suddenly shift from being shy or quiet to outgoing.
There are various dementia symptoms beyond memory loss, which can vary based on the type of dementia a person is diagnosed with and how far the condition has progressed. Make sure to talk with your loved one’s doctor to learn as much as you can about their condition and develop a care and management plan that is right for your family.
At The Grove on Forest Lane, we offer compassionate memory care services with signature programming designed to encourage health and harmony between the mind and body. We invite you to visit our website or contact a member of our team to learn more about our intentional senior living community in Dallas, Texas, and how we can support your family.
