As your loved one gets older, they may experience slower thinking, difficulty with names, and forgetfulness. But how can you tell the difference between normal age-related changes and those caused by dementia?
Dementia includes a range of disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, which is caused by abnormal protein deposits in the brain. While there are different types and causes of dementia, the symptoms are similar.
Samuel Gandy, MD, PhD
In this Q&A, Samuel Gandy, MD, PhD, a Mount Sinai neurologist and prominent Alzheimer’s disease researcher, explains common signs that your loved one may have dementia.
What signs could mean my loved one is developing dementia?
Possible signs of dementia include changes in memory and thinking that begin to interfere with a loved one’s everyday life. Changes that affect everyday activities may be noticed in a variety of ways.
For example, your loved one may:
- Ask the same question repeatedly within a few minutes.
- Forget to pay bills.
- Become lost in familiar places.
- Not recognize that anything has changed.
Why does my loved one not recognize these changes?
Not everyone who is developing dementia recognizes changes in memory or thinking. Some people notice changes in their own memory and decide to see a doctor. Others may not recognize that anything has changed. In those cases, family members or friends may be the first to notice problems, especially when changes begin to interfere with everyday life.
What factors may increase my loved one’s risk of dementia?
Several factors can make dementia more likely, especially if your loved one:
- Is between the ages of 65 and 72. Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia, typically occurs after age 65. Less common forms of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia, such as frontotemporal dementia, can occur at younger ages.
- Has a family history of dementia. If your loved one has a parent or sibling with dementia, their risk may be about twice as high as it would be otherwise.
- Carries certain forms of a gene called APOE, which can substantially increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Having two copies of certain forms of APOE can increase risk by as much as 12 times. Genetic testing for dementia is available at Mount Sinai.
- Has experienced problems with blood flow to the brain, such as having a stroke. Multiple strokes are known to cause vascular dementia, a type of dementia associated with poor blood flow to the brain.
- Has diabetes and/or is obese
What should I do if I think my loved one has dementia?
Don’t assume they have dementia. Speak to them gently. Tell them you have noticed they seem to have some trouble remembering things. Ask them if you can make an appointment with their primary care doctor and if it’s okay for you to go with them. In the meantime, take notes of what you are noticing to share with their doctor.