Signs of Dementia

Not all cognitive decline indicates dementia or Alzheimer's. Some cognitive changes are due to conditions or diseases that are treatable or even reversible. It’s important to get tested and find out a diagnosis-whether you want to or not.

How do you know if an aging loved one is showing typical age-related changes vs. showing early signs and symptoms of dementia? Dementia warning signs vary, but memory loss, behavior changes, and increased confusion are common indicators.

Occasional forgetfulness can be blamed on advancing age, but a pattern of memory loss or unusual changes in behavior should prompt concerns about an elderly parent’s cognitive function.

We all lose our keys or glasses sometimes, but what if they start turning up in unusual places? For caregivers who are familiar with dementia, blips like this are troubling. Is misplacing things a sign of cognitive decline, or is it chronic stress?

Occupying the middle ground between normal aging and dementia lies a disorder known as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).

When you think about the telltale signs of dementia, memory loss is often top of mind. But marked behavior change in a senior may be a dangerous sign of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) that has nothing to do with memory.

Ever have trouble recalling a word or a name? The question is: when is memory loss part of the normal aging process, and when is it a sign of a more progressive problem?

There's a common misconception that the primary indicator of dementia is memory loss. The reality is that different forms of dementia have different signs. Learn which signs commonly correspond with each type of dementia.

Learn the differences between these common dementia-related behaviors and the best techniques for coping with them.

Admitting the need for assistance is not easy for people as they age. So, how will you know when your aging parent needs help at home? One thing is certain: Mom and Dad aren’t likely to be the ones who tell you!

When a parent is diagnosed with Alzheimer's or dementia, children want to know, "Can Alzheimer's disease be inherited?" What causes Alzheimer’s disease isn't fully understood, but some cases of early-onset Alzheimer's called familial AD, are inherited.

Dementia is a group of disorders differing in progression and parts of the brain affected. Learn differences between: Alzheimer's, Vascular Dementia, Lewy Body Dementia, and Frontotemporal Dementia.

Alzheimer's disease is not natural aging. It is a progressive disease that causes the abnormal death of brain cells. The initial symptoms include memory loss, but as the disease progresses, it is important to be prepared for increasing levels of care.

Does my mom have dementia? Alzheimer's is a form of dementia and accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases. Learn the most common symptoms of Alzheimer's, an overview of stages, and the impact of dementia on the ability to function.

After blanking out during a recent speaking engagement, I realized how few people know about or recognize the signs of dementia. Patient perspectives are crucial to achieving a better understanding of this disease.

Alzheimer's is a disease that evokes great fear in many people. But where do these fears come from? Are they grounded in reality, or misunderstanding?

Having a healthy store of cognitive reserve is thought to decrease a person's risk for developing cognitive impairment as a result of dementia. Here are 8 techniques caregivers can use to boost their own mental reserves and those of their loved ones.

Caregivers are constantly concerned about a list of responsibilities and possibilities. However, fear over developing dementia should not be on this list.

The increased focus on Alzheimer's research is promising, but the efforts have all but ignored one of the most devastating features of this disease: the behavioral symptoms of dementia.

A caregiver's perspective on when you should (and shouldn't) tell someone they have Alzheimer's disease.