When Cognitive Decline is an Early Warning Sign of Dementia

Dementia is a condition characterized by a decline in cognitive abilities that interferes with daily life. It involves impairments in memory, communication, focus, reasoning and visual perception. Dementia is caused by damage to brain cells and is usually progressive, meaning symptoms worsen over time.

Common Types of Dementia

Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent, accounting for 60-80% of dementia cases. It involves progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. 

Vascular dementia, caused by reduced blood flow in the brain, is the second most common type at around 10% of cases. 

Dementia with Lewy bodies makes up 5-10% of cases and involves fluctuating cognition plus visual hallucinations and movement issues. 

Frontotemporal dementia is less common at about 2% of cases and initially involves personality and behaviour changes. 

Mixed dementia refers to hallmark features of more than one type occurring together, most often Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia.

The Early Stages

In the early stages of dementia, symptoms are often subtle and tend to develop gradually. Many people first notice minor memory problems or have more trouble coming up with the right words in conversation. The key is that these symptoms are persistent and worsen over time. Early on, individuals may still function independently, but common early warning signs of dementia include:

Memory Loss

• Forgetting recently learned information or important dates and events
• Asking the same questions repeatedly 
• Relying more on reminders or memory aids
• Becoming lost or disoriented in familiar places

Communication Difficulties

• Trouble following conversations or finding the right words 
• Using the wrong word substitutions
• Withdrawing from conversations and social interactions  

Focus and Reasoning Issues

• Decreased ability to pay attention or judge situations 
• Difficulty organizing, planning and problem solving
• Struggling to complete familiar tasks 

Visual Changes 

• Difficulty reading, judging distance or determining colour/contrast
• Problems recognising faces or common objects

When to See a Doctor 

If you notice ongoing memory, communication or cognitive problems, it is important to see your doctor right away. Many conditions can cause cognitive changes, including vitamin deficiencies, thyroid disorders, side effects of medication or depression. Identifying and treating these underlying issues may help improve or stabilize symptoms. 

Your doctor will likely perform exams, laboratory tests and possibly brain imaging to diagnose the cause of your symptoms. Getting an accurate diagnosis early via a cognitive test for dementia allows more time to plan treatment and access support services. Doctors can also monitor cognitive decline over time to help slow progression of the disease.

The Benefits of Early Diagnosis

Though dementia cannot be cured, an early diagnosis provides many advantages:

• Starting medication that can temporarily improve or slow symptoms
• Making lifestyle changes to protect the brain through exercise, diet and cognitive training  
• Planning for future care needs and making legal/financial arrangements
• Accessing support services and resources
• Adjusting living arrangements to stay safe in familiar surroundings for as long as possible
• Participating in clinical trials for new therapies

Perhaps most importantly, an early diagnosis gives individuals and families more time to cope with the life changes dementia brings. By recognising cognitive problems right away, you can live as fully as possible and focus on creating meaningful moments in the early stages of the disease. Monitoring cognitive function and seeking help at the first signs of decline provide the best chance to slow the impacts of dementia.