Forgetting recently learned information is one of the most common early signs. This includes forgetting important dates, asking for the same information repeatedly, or relying heavily on memory aids (notes, family members) for things you used to handle on your own.
What it looks like: Forgetting a grandchild's birthday but remembering events from 40 years ago. Dementia affects short-term memory first.
When to worry: When forgetting becomes frequent and interferes with daily functioning.
2. Difficulty Planning or Problem-Solving
People may find it hard to follow a familiar recipe, keep track of monthly bills, or concentrate on tasks that require multiple steps.
What it looks like: Taking much longer to do things than before, or being unable to follow a familiar process.
3. Trouble Completing Familiar Tasks
Driving to a familiar location, remembering the rules of a favorite game, or making a grocery list may become challenging.
What it looks like: A lifelong cook forgetting how to prepare a family recipe. A driver getting lost on a familiar route.
4. Confusion with Time or Place
Losing track of dates, seasons, or the passage of time. Sometimes people forget where they are or how they got there.
What it looks like: Forgetting what day it is, but remembering later. Or being unable to recall the season or time of day at all.
5. Trouble Understanding Visual Images or Spatial Relationships
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