Memory loss is one of the main signs of dementia, but it can sometimes be confused with old age. There are many different types of dementia and prevention of the most common type, Alzheimer’s disease, cannot be guaranteed, but a healthy lifestyle may help prevent the disease, and in this We identify 4 hidden signs of dementia, according to the New York Post website.
Hidden signs of dementia
Here are the four least common signs to look out for that you may have dementia.
1. Eye diseases and hearing loss
A study conducted this year found that people with certain eye conditions are more likely to develop dementia.
Experts who conducted the UK Biobank study said people with age-related macular degeneration were 25% more likely to develop dementia.
It also found that people with cataracts had an 11% increased risk of developing dementia and that people with diabetic eye disease had a 61% higher risk of developing the disease.
Another study by experts at Oxford University found that people who go out to loud restaurants and struggle to hear what their friends have to say are also at risk of developing dementia.
Katie Buckring, Director of Information Services at . said: Alzheimer’s Research UKThere may be two reasons for this association, the first is that hearing loss may be related to cellular changes in the brain, but the second reason is that social isolation has long been known to be a risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
2. Change in understanding of humor
Not understanding jokes that you used to find funny or a change in your sense of humor may be an early warning sign of dementia.
A study published in 2017 in the Journal of Neuroscience, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry found that people with early dementia don’t find other people’s jokes funny.
While a 2009 report based on MRI scans found that people with dementia struggle to understand sarcasm.
3. Periodontal disease
A 2019 study in the Journal of Periodontology showed that gum disease poses a risk of dementia.
And studies have shown time and time again that those who choose healthy lives have lower odds of developing the disease – but that doesn’t mean they are never diagnosed.
The association with gum disease can be due to poor overall health and many conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity, all of which are more pronounced in people with dementia.
4. Withdrawing from family and friends
Friends and family members may sometimes notice that you are turning away from them. It can be common for people to feel isolated during middle age, but if you constantly find yourself withdrawing from your family, you may want to see a doctor to rule out other conditions including menopause, a mood disorder such as depression, Thyroid disease or even a vitamin deficiency.
Other signs to watch for include people becoming depressed, irritable and uninterested in activities they previously enjoyed.
Although there is currently no cure for this disease, some treatments can help boost mood and ward off some symptoms, but it is ultimately a progressive disease, which means that more symptoms appear and worsen over time.
As the disease progresses, a person may experience:
Loss of common items including keys and glasses around the house
They struggle to find the word they are looking for in conversation
Forget about recent conversations or events
Forgetting important occasions, birthdays or appointments
Although memory problems are the most common, there are other signs that a person has dementia, such as..
Speech problems. The person may struggle to follow a conversation or find that they often repeat the same words
Problems judging distance, navigating stairs, or stopping a car
Difficulty making decisions and solving problems.
