Preventing dementia: This is how it works

Dementia begins slowly and insidiously. Forgetfulness and absentmindedness are the first symptoms at which many people become alert. But even those who feel powerless, easily fatigued, or irritable could be suffering from mild dementia – because these, far less well-known symptoms are also the first signs. Depressive moods and sleep disturbances are also common early symptoms of dementia. As the disease progresses, those affected then find it increasingly difficult to retain new things or to orient themselves in familiar surroundings. Their judgment may decline, they become moody, and they withdraw more and more as the disease progresses. Other possible symptoms include the following complaints:

• Forgetting events from the recent past
• Difficulty performing familiar activities
• Speech disorders
• decreasing interest in work, hobbies and contacts
• Difficulty in finding one’s way in a foreign environment
• lack of overview of financial matters
• Misjudgment of hazards
• unprecedented mood swings, persistent anxiety, irritability, and distrust
• Stubborn denial of errors, mistakes or confusion

In severe cases, verbal expression, planning ability, and spatial imagination suffer. However, even at this stage of dementia, those affected can still perform the most important everyday tasks themselves and without assistance.

It becomes much more serious when dementia develops into Alzheimer’s disease. The cognitive abilities of those affected can then suffer to the point where the most basic skills can be lost.