Dementia affects more than 1.4 million Americans but doesn’t have the notoriety of Alzheimer’s disease. It’s flown under the radar of many medical experts, and can be difficult to treat at an early stage, so patients are often misdiagnosed or wait several years to get the correct diagnosis.
Most people link the development of dementia with memory loss but there are also a subset of symptoms tied to memory loss.
For example, memory loss can make a person to get lost and struggle to find their way home after going for a walk, said the Alzheimer’s Society (AS).
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Memory loss and orientation problems may also cause someone to repeatedly walk around the house or leave the house at any time of day or night, explains the AS.
The main symptom can therefore cause unusual behavioural changes that may signal the onset of dementia.
As the AS highlighted, a person with dementia might walk about for a number of other reasons too.
The reasons may not be obvious – when you ask them, the person may not remember or be able to tell you.
Other key sign to watch out for
Dementia symptoms may include problems with:
- Thinking speed
- Mental sharpness and quickness
- Language, such as using words incorrectly, or trouble speaking
- Understanding
- Judgement
- Mood
- Movement
- Difficulties doing daily activities.
They may also find social situations difficult and lose interest in relationships and socialising.
While there’s no certain way to prevent all types of dementia, as researchers are still investigating how the condition develops, Alzheimer’s Research UK points out that:
Risk factors for cardiovascular disease (like high blood pressure and stroke) are also risk factors for dementia, so what is good for your heart is good for your brain.
- Keep cholesterol and blood pressure under control
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Eat a healthy balanced diet
- Drink fewer than 14 units of alcohol per week.
“Regularly challenging yourself mentally seems to build up the brain’s ability to cope with disease,” explains the AS.
According to the health body, you should find something you like doing that challenges your brain and do it regularly.
For example:
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- Study for a qualification or course, or just for fun
- Learn a new language
- Do puzzles, crosswords or quizzes
- Play card games or board games
- Read challenging books or write (fiction or non-fiction).