24 December 2023 , 12:58
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As the population continues to age, more people are living with conditions such as dementia, but there's one lesser-known warning sign that some people notice in their hands.
While declining mental and physical function is expected as we get older, it can be difficult to watch our loved ones deteriorate. Spotting the early signs of dementia can help give you and your loved ones time to prepare for their mental function to decline, but it can be difficult to care for a loved one when you're unsure whether they have dementia or not.
It's a common misconception that Alzheimer's and dementia are the same thing when dementia is a syndrome, not a disease. While Alzheimer's is a disease, dementia is a group of symptoms without a definitive diagnosis that impact mental functions such as memory and reasoning.
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More of us are caring for loved ones with dementia (Getty Images/Westend61)Meanwhile, Alzheimer's is a progressive disease of the brain, slowly causing memory impairment and cognitive function issues. Alzheimer's may need medical attention beyond that required for dementia and is classed as a terminal illness with seven stages.
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Dementia warning signs
There are eight main warning signs of dementia, which apply to all forms of dementia, including Alzheimer's. They impact memory, movement and thinking.
Movement and motor control
One of the most common dementia symptoms is a loss of motor control. Often, shaking is associated with Parkinson's, but those with dementia can also be shaky.
Their hands may tremble, or they may shuffle when they walk. People could also walk much more slowly than usual and be more fragile or fearful of things such as falls.
Hallucinations
Another common early sign of dementia that is often one of the first signs people become aware of, is visual hallucinations. Dementia is often associated with visual hallucinations, such as seeing items, people, or animals that aren't there, but people may also experience olfactory (smell), auditory (sound) and tactile (touch) hallucinations as well.
There are numerous early warning signs that your loved one could be developing dementia (Getty Images/Westend61)Poor regulation of bodily functions
As we get older, biological functions can also be impacted by dementia, including sweating, pulse, blood pressure and digestion. Dementia comes in different forms and one, Lewy Body dementia (LBD) sees nerve cells in the brain impacted by Lew bodies. These control parts of the brain that are in charge of bodily function and can result in symptoms like constipation.
Sleep complications
One of the least recognised signs of dementia is complications with sleeping, which is often missed as we tend to be asleep during the time loved ones experience this symptom. Rapid Eye Movement (REM) can result in people acting out dreams as they occur. This can mean people end up sleepwalking and pose a very real danger to the person with dementia.
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Attention span issues
People with dementia will often be seen staring into space from time to time and for long periods of time, they may appear to be 'zoning out'. People will also take long naps during the day and can also be highly disorganised in their speech pattern which can then become some of the easiest warning signs of dementia to spot.
Cognition problems
Similar to problems with the attention span, problems with cognition are often easier to spot as they are very noticeable issues with thought processes. It's one of the classic signs of dementia, people may not appear to follow any kind of local or sequential order when speaking, and may seem "out of sync".
Apathy
Apathy among older generations doesn't necessarily mean your loved one is suffering from dementia, but it can be a symptom to look out for. It can come from being aware they are nearing the final stages of their life, and this is normal is none of the other signs are present. But, severe apathy to the point of an almost catatonic state could indicate dementia is a risk.
Depression
Similarly to apathy, showing signs of depression may not indicate that a person has dementia. But, if someone has more than a few of the other warning signs, there is a possibility of dementia, with a risk Lewy bodies are affecting nerve cells in the brain.