5 Shocking Signs of Early Dementia (That Have Nothing to Do with Memory)

Lately, you have been thinking something has been off with Mom. It's not just one thing you can point to. It's more a few different things that, when put together, are starting to worry you. You're starting to wonder: could Mom have dementia?

There are some surprising early signs of dementia. Of course, memory loss is the hallmark of the dementia, but issues can pop up before that you may not associate with a neurodegenerative disorder. Below are 5 sides you may not recognize as early signs of dementia.

Fading Sense of Sell

It's always nice to take time to smell the flowers, but Mom isn't able to smell them. Or anything, as it turns out. She didn't notice the smell of sour milk last week and she missed the absolute stink wafting out the cat's litterbox yesterday.

Anosmia, the medical term of the loss of smell, is often an early sign of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. In early life, a strong sense of smell is actually associated with a slower loss of cognitive dysfunction. Anosmia can be brought on by an accumulation of harmful proteins, which also leads to the cognitive impairment that defines Alzheimer's.

Nightmares

If you're a card-carrying member of the Sandwich Generation (those caring for their young children and their aging parents), you probably have been handling your kiddos' nightmares for years now. As Dad ages though, he might start telling you about this scary and vivid nightmares too.

An international study out of Sydney found that adults who frequently have disturbing dreams in their 60s are four times more likely to develop dementia. The study defined disturbing dreams as distressing dreams about danger. The study did account for outlying variables such as medication and mental health. The researchers do emphasize that bad dreams do not automatically lead to dementia, but for dreamers in their 60s, it may be worth investigating.

Losing Social Nuances

Your mom was always one of the smartest people you've ever known. She was always quick witted and had snappy comebacks. Plus, she could call out a liar from 100 miles away. "It's just good pattern recognition," she always said. However, on phone calls recently, your sarcastic quips are going over her head. She's taking your frustrated "oh, greats" literally. And she fell for a telemarketing scam last month!

At University of California San Francisco, researchers showed subjects videos of people talking. In most of the subjects who could not detect sarcasm or lies, MRI scans showed deterioration in the frontal lobe. The author of the study, neuropsychologist Katherine Rankin, recommends older people who show high signs of gullibility should discuss the issue with doctors.

New Compulsive Behaviors or Rituals

Your Dad always had his routines; nothing wrong with wanting to read the newspaper with breakfast! As he ages, though, his routines are increasing and they are becoming increasingly troubling. Surely, washing his hands five times every time is excessive. Also, he is starting to hoard everything. Is this OCD?

If your parent didn't experience OCD-like compulsions and obsessions earlier in life, the appearance of this problem late in life could be an early sign of dementia. These compulsions aren't usually fueled by anxiety, like traditional OCD. Again, the frontal lobe is to blame. The frontal lobe controls the regulation of impulse control. It also contains the part of the brain that can typically recognize such behavior as rechecking locks is irrational.

Breaking the Law

Wait - breaking the law? Really? Yes, really. If Mom or Dad starts randomly shoplifting and disregarding traffic laws, dementia might be to blame. One study found that in 15% of frontotemporal dementia sufferers, breaking law was actually the first sign of the disease.

Why are these seniors throwing caution (and their criminal record) to the wind? It's not a conscious decision. Neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer's, affect the systems in the brain that control things like judgement, self-awareness, and emotional processing. As the condition progresses, dementia patients start displaying more and more criminal and antisocial behaviors as result.

So, Is it Dementia?

As always, if concerned about your loved one, discuss your observations with their care team. The process of aging looks different for everyone and the above symptoms can also be part of it.

If your parent or loved one is showing signs of early dementia, it may be time to consider home healthcare. Seniors Fix provides compassionate skilled nursing and companion care to residents of Cumberland, Maryland, and its surrounding areas. Contact us today for a free home visit!