Dementia is a group of conditions that causes progressive physical, cognitive, and psychological changes as a result of damaged nerve cells in the brain. Some symptoms of dementia are memory loss, forgetfulness, a decrease of social skills, inappropriate behavior, and paranoia. Dementia typically occurs in older individuals. Causes are often Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease.

Dementia is also speculated to be influenced by lifestyle factors such as exercise and levels of cognitive function. Here are some of the earliest symptoms of dementia:

1. Misplacing personal items

Misplacing items is another common trait in those with dementia. Someone may misplace their house keys, their purse or wallet, or their shoes. Misplacing items and decreases in memory go hand in hand, often affecting one another, and can make the person with dementia feel frustrated and confused. It can be helpful for those in the beginning stages of dementia to keep bracelets with important items on them, or necklaces with their house keys so that they don’t misplace them.

2. Problem solving difficulties

Another early symptom of dementia is having issues with problem solving. Someone with dementia may have trouble following a recipe, tracking their monthly bills, or gathering items on a grocery list. These issues may be intermittent or constant, and depend on the type of dementia and where the brain is affected. Having these issues constantly can cause disruption in a person’s life and may even cause the person to become frustrated, anxious, and socially withdrawn.

3. Memory loss

One of the hallmark symptoms of dementia is losing one’s memory. This is often one of the first signs of dementia and is often spotted by a family member or spouse. Someone that is at an early stage of dementia may begin to forget people’s names or even who their family members are. When those with dementia begin to lose their memory more rapidly, it can pose a significant risk to the person, especially if they forget that they are cooking and leave a pan on the stove or if they forget where they are driving in a car and get lost.

4. Confusion about time and place

Someone that has dementia can also be confused about what time it is and where they are. This can happen when they are out and about or even at their home. Somewhere that is familiar to them may suddenly feel like a scary and unfamiliar place, which can cause further confusion and even panic. Someone with dementia may also feel as though hours have gone by when it has only been minutes, or that minutes have gone by when it has been multiple weeks.

5. Challenges understanding visual information

Something else to look out for in someone you think may have dementia is when someone can’t understand visual cues or information. The person may not be able to recognize different signs on the streets or words in a book due to their brain not working in the ways that it used to. Dementia can also cause physical changes in one’s vision which can lead to the person not being able to see as well, both in front of them and peripherally (to the sides of them).

6. Speech issues

When someone is experiencing speech issues, it may be a sign of dementia as well. This may be because the part of the brain that is responsible for articulating speech is slowly losing brain cells or has nerve damage. Someone with dementia may not be able to say what they want or how they are feeling, and may forget the word that they were looking for. In more advanced stages of dementia, sometimes people do not speak at all.

It is important to recognize when someone is having these symptoms so that they can get the proper treatment and assistance with what they need.