Let’s talk about the 6 early warning signs of dementia.
Feeling tired, stressed, lethargic?
You would have all the symptoms of dementia, but do you really have dementia?
Tiredness and stress, may simply be due to late nights, low blood sugar, heavy work load, or any number of things. There are a number of signs that are not real dementia.
The worst thing you could do is give your spouse or partner the wrong diagnosis.
Another trap is the belief you have dementia, but not actually have it. You may have a well-meaning spouse who self-diagnoses you with dementia. He/she then gets into the habit of reminding you when you are forgetful and corrects you when you make a mistake. You then start to think and feel that you actually have early dementia.
It doesn’t mean you have dementia if these symptoms happen occasionally.
What is dementia?
A mental decline. When certain parts of your brain are shrinking, specifically a structure called the hippocampus.
6 Early Warning Signs of Dementia
1.Poor organization
People with early dementia may have problems with familiar everyday organization tasks. They may get confused with the order of things or with making plans.
2. Personality changes
Having unexpected mood swings where a person switches between emotions for no apparent reason may indicate an early sign of dementia. For no real reason, they may seem different from his/her usual self. They may become irritable, depressed, anxious, agitated, or apathetic.
3.Constipation
Our gut is like a second brain. There is a connection between our gut and our brain. The microbiome (bacteria) in our gut makes neurotransmitters. They also make more serotonin than our brain makes serotonin. Serotonin is a natural mood stabiliser that regulates wellbeing and happiness.
We have more nerve fibers in our digestive system than we do in our spinal column.
Many cognitive problems can stem from our gut. People who have Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease have much higher instance of constipation than someone who doesn’t have these diseases.
However, it is important to note that if you have constipation, it doesn’t mean you have dementia. It is just an early sign.
4.Sensory Dysfunction.
This could include issues with your smell, taste, hearing, eyesight and even your appetite. These could be early signs of cognitive decline. As sensory decline becomes more apparent, then the ability to focus, concentrate and overall memory is really what shows up to be a problem.
5.Language Problems
Struggling to find words for certain things, tending to repeat saying the same things over and over again, or mixing up words are all early indicators of dementia.
For example, a person may be able to talk and make sentences, but is incoherent. What they are saying does not make sense. Words come out randomly and all over the place. This can be extremely frustrating for the person trying to communicate. Language problems are a result of a shrinking hippocampus.
6.Problems Navigating
Problems navigating are apparent when you are trying to locate a place in a new area. You get confused and can’t work out where you are.
In our brain we have a GPS which allows us to locate where we are in space. When this area of the brain goes down, we lose this GPS. So, our internal map becomes non-functional, resulting in not being able to find out where you are.
Final Comments
Now that you are aware of what the early warning signs of dementia are, the next step is to know how to prevent the onset of dementia. We have published an article with 7 easy things you can do to prevent cognitive decline.
Viewing Dr. Eric Berg DC channel guided much of the content for this article. Dr. Berg specializes in Intermittent Fasting and Healthy Ketosis.
