Dementia is a familiar word to many of us. We know family members, friends, or others who have many symptoms associated with memory loss. About 5.6 million older people (aged 65) have dementia. We know it can be a difficult subject to discuss, and knowing what dementia is is not easy either.

Broadly speaking, dementia is a term many people use to describe the many conditions that affect memory loss. In addition, memory loss is associated with decreased thinking and social skills and concomitant impairment of daily living in older adults. It is important to note that dementia is not a specific disease. Dementia can be caused by multiple diseases (for example, Alzheimer’s disease is the most common). Memory loss can lead to the need for additional at home care and can be challenging on family members.

Before proceeding, it is important to note that although dementia and memory loss are related, memory loss has many different causes. This means that forgetfulness alone does not necessarily mean dementia, it can be a warning sign.

Dos and don’ts for recognizing signs of dementia

Don’t self-diagnose

A quick and easy way to create conflict within families and with aging parents is to self-diagnose and identify a person with dementia. As mentioned earlier, forgetfulness can be related to dementia, but that doesn’t necessarily mean your older loved one is suffering from dementia. What else can cause memory loss? Are there? Many internal and external factors can affect our memory, including stress, common mental illnesses, hormonal imbalances, and even medication itself. It is necessary to deal with consultation with a doctor.

Remember these important tips

We don’t want to self-diagnose dementia or stigmatize it negatively, but we should be careful, observe, and discuss it with our doctors if necessary. As overarching principles, consider the following guidelines:

Early warning signs can be very difficult to spot if you’re not careful. Proactively record your observations so you can spot patterns over time. It may not be immediately identifiable. The early warning signs of dementia vary, but there are some very common signs to look out for (shared below). If your loved one has some warning signs of dementia, see your doctor and consider getting the SAGE test. Doctors administer several different tests and exams that can be met with resistance from aging parents, so your involvement and support is essential.

10 Common Warning Signs of Dementia

  • vague in everyday conversation
  • Amnesia that impairs daily functioning
  • loss of short-term memory
  • Difficulty performing routine tasks and spending more time on routine tasks
  • Loss of enthusiasm or interest in regular activities
  • Difficulty thinking or saying the right words
  • change in personality or behavior
  • difficult to follow instructions
  • Not good at following the story
  • Increased emotional unpredictability. If your elderly loved one is showing any of these common warning signs, it is imperative that you consult your doctor and take sage.

What is SAGE: Self-Administered Gerocognitive Exam?

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center has developed the Self-Administered Gerocognitive Exam (SAGE). The test is self-administered and is specifically designed to detect early warning signs of memory, cognition, or thought disorders. It is not on its own a means to diagnose but it is a way to evaluate how your brain is working and monitor over time.