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 If you have had one or more of the following symptoms for six months, and people close to you have commented on them, you may want to consult your family doctor. He or she can refer you to a dementia clinic.
If you have memory loss accompanied by walking difficulties or slurring of speech, see a doctor as soon as possible. These could be signs of a stroke.
Watch out for these signs
Behavioural changes
Someone with dementia may display obsessive or uninhibited behaviour. For instance, the person may talk to
strangers with great familiarity or show hyper-religiosity.
Language problems
Difficulty finding the right pauses in conversation. The person may use the wrong word, such as calling an apple a tomato, or use an umbrella term, such as a big cat instead of a lion.
Dysexecutive syndrome
This is a dysfunction in executive functions, such as planning, abstract thinking and organising.
Slowing of mental processes
This is sometimes mistaken for laziness. It may be caused by Parkinson’s disease, a brain disorder.
Forgetfulness
People with dementia usually lose their short-term memory first. They may misplace their keys or forget appointments. As the dementia progresses, long-term memory can also be impaired. |