Signs Of Senility: 10 Red Flags For Dementia

Around the world, there are about 50 million people who suffer from dementia.

There are also 10 million more cases diagnosed each year, and so many people are vulnerable to it.

Dementia is a brutal mental illness. Catching it early is incredibly important. Here are some signs of senility to watch for.

1. Short-Term Memory Loss

A big part of dementia is memory loss, but losing your short term memory may be a sign that dementia is starting.

These changes are normally subtle and can be hard to notice. They happen gradually over time. It's not like one night you'll notice that you wake up and can't remember anything.

If you suspect that someone is suffering from short-term memory loss, they may not be able to remember what they ate for dinner. They may start misplacing things. If they walk into a room, they may forget why they walked in there.

These things alone don't cause for concern, but if the memory loss episodes are happening more often and frequently, you may want to pay attention to some other symptoms as well.

If someone is suffering from short-term memory loss, there is memory care out there that could help with combating dementia. 

2. Mood Changes

If you notice that someone is having mood swings or changes in their normal mood, this is another symptom that you have to watch out for.

Depression is one of the most common mood disorders that is also associated with dementia. These mood changes can be difficult to notice in yourself but may be more noticeable to someone else.

In addition to the mood changes, there may also be a change in personality as well. If someone is normally outgoing, they may start to isolate themselves and feel more introverted.

Someone with dementia may feel anxious, nervous, irritable, or even have new fears that they never had before. 

3. Difficulty With Solving Problems

Since dementia affects the brain, it can also hinder someone's ability to solve problems.

A person who is starting to go senile could have difficulty following a plan through, which means that they may have problems cooking. They may even be unsafe to drive because it can be difficult for them to navigate.

Problem-solving can become difficult as well. It can be difficult to perform different tasks such as adding up numbers to pay bills or figuring out how much to put into a recipe.

They may not be able to understand what is reasonable, so they can easily be convinced to pay more for things than they need to.

They may also forget to do basic things like taking a shower, brushing their teeth, or getting dressed. 

4. Not Being Able to Find the Right Words

For someone with dementia, finding the right words to say may become harder.

You might notice that it's difficult to have a conversation with someone because they keep stopping or starting their words over. The conversation will probably take a while to end because they have to keep starting over.

Because of this, people with dementia sometimes don't even try to engage in conversations. This could add to them trying to withdraw and isolate themselves.

If they are texting or sending emails, their grammar and spelling may become worse and worse. Their handwriting may change as well too. 

5. Confusion

Dementia can also cause confusion.

It can warp the passage of time for its sufferers, so people with dementia normally forget where they are supposed to be when. They may start to lose track of what date and day it is, thus missing appointments or meetups.

In addition to that, they also have lapses in memory, thinking, and judgment.  They may be confused if they meet an old friend because they don't remember meeting them beforehand. 

6. Not Caring Anymore

They may also lose their empathy as dementia starts to set in.

Someone suffering from dementia could start to isolate themselves from their family and friends. They may not have an interest in them anymore.

Not only will they draw away from their friends and family, but they could also start to lose interest in their hobbies and other favorite activities. 

7. Sudden Repetition

Some repetition and patterns are normal for people, but if new repetitions arise, this may be a warning sign.

Because dementia causes memory loss and changes behavior, people may start redoing a daily task, like taking multiple showers a day. They do this simply because they forgot that they already took one.

They may start to obsess over these tasks and not be able to function because they are so focused on these. 

8. Being Difficult With Change

Most people hate change, but people with dementia will adamantly be against it.

The change could even cause them to have a response of fear. They are already overwhelmed with not being able to remember the things they used to do and the people they knew.

They will be even more overwhelmed with new people and experiences.

People with dementia find comfort with routine.  

9. Losing Their Sense of Direction

They may also lose their sense of direction. This could be accompanied by losing spatial orientation as well.

This means that they get more lost frequently, which can make it dangerous for them to drive or go out on their own.

10. Trouble Carrying Out Normal Tasks

They may also not be able to simple things anymore.

This could include doing laundry, washing the dishes, or even remembering to brush their teeth.

Learn the Signs of Senility Today

These signs of senility are all red flags that can give you a hint that dementia is setting in. It can be a very scary illness to deal with, but you don't have to deal with it alone.

Make sure you check out some of our other blog posts for more health tips!