Everyone misplaces keys or glasses sometimes.
A person with dementia may place objects in unusual locations, such as:
Keys in the refrigerator
A wallet in a kitchen cabinet
A phone in a laundry basket
They may then be unable to retrace their steps to find the item.
Some people may also accuse others of stealing things they actually misplaced.
7. Poor Judgment or Unusual Decisions
Changes in judgment can be an early warning sign.
Examples may include:
Giving large amounts of money to strangers
Falling for scams more easily
Neglecting personal hygiene
Wearing inappropriate clothing for the weather
Making unsafe financial decisions
This is especially concerning when the behavior is clearly different from the person’s usual personality.
8. Withdrawal From Work or Social Activities
A person may begin avoiding activities they once enjoyed.
They may stop:
Meeting friends
Attending clubs
Participating in hobbies
Going to family gatherings
Following favorite sports or activities
Sometimes withdrawal happens because the person finds conversations or complex activities more difficult.
Social withdrawal can also be caused by depression, anxiety, hearing loss, or other conditions, so it should not automatically be assumed to be dementia.
9. Changes in Mood or Personality
Dementia can affect behavior and emotional regulation.
A person may become:
More suspicious
Anxious
Irritable
Fearful
Easily upset
Apathetic
Unusually withdrawn
These changes may be especially noticeable in unfamiliar situations.
Sudden personality changes should always be evaluated because many medical and psychiatric conditions can cause them.
10. Difficulty With Visual or Spatial Relationships
Some forms of dementia can affect how the brain interprets visual information.
A person may have difficulty:
Judging distance
Reading
Recognizing objects
Distinguishing colors
Navigating familiar spaces
This can make driving particularly risky.
Vision problems can also be caused by eye disease, so proper assessment is important.
Normal Aging vs. Possible Dementia
Not every memory lapse is a sign of dementia.
Normal aging may include:
Occasionally forgetting names
Misplacing items and later finding them
Needing more time to learn something new
Forgetting why you walked into a room
Making an occasional mistake with bills
Possible dementia is more concerning when problems:
Happen frequently
Get progressively worse
Interfere with independence
Affect multiple areas of thinking
Are noticed by family or friends
Dementia Can Have Different Causes
