Understanding Early Onset Dementia

Early onset dementia affects over 200,000 Americans, with symptoms varying among individuals.

The Alzheimer’s Association reports that approximately 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older have Alzheimer's. Additionally, 110 per 100,000 people aged 30 to 64 years old experience early onset dementia. This progressive disease impacts both cognitive and physical functions.

General Symptoms of Dementia

According to the Mayo Clinic, common symptoms of dementia include:

• Memory loss
• Problems communicating or finding words
• Difficulties with visual and spatial abilities
• Trouble with reasoning or problem-solving
• Challenges performing complex tasks
• Issues with planning and organizing
• Poor coordination and movement control
• Confusion and disorientation

Personality Changes as Potential Early Indicators

Professor Gill Livingston (University College London) and Professor Geir Selbaek (Norwegian National Centre for Ageing and Health) have identified several personality changes that may signal dementia years before other symptoms appear. These include:

• Lack of confidence: Losing self-confidence was found to be a strong predictor. Individuals experiencing low moods and sleep problems were 50 percent more likely to develop dementia, even when accounting for genetic links and risk factors. Professor Selbaek suggests low self-confidence may contribute to loneliness, which increases dementia risk.
• Struggling to cope: Difficulty managing everyday issues in one's 40s and 50s may indicate brain shrinkage, a common feature in dementia patients. Professor Livingston notes that as brains begin to shrink decades before diagnosis, individuals may struggle with tasks they previously managed.
• Lack of warmth for others: Individuals who reported not feeling warmth and affection for others in midlife were 44 percent more likely to develop dementia compared to those who did not report similar feelings.
• Impulsivity: A sudden onset of impulsive behavior, such as a previously conventional person seeking new experiences without their partner, can be a sign. This change is linked to the erosion of cells in the frontal regions of the brain, which are crucial for controlling impulsivity.
• Feeling nervous: Elevated nervousness is linked to chronic stress, according to Professor Selbaek. Increased stress levels can lead to higher inflammation in the body, which negatively impacts brain health.
• Perfectionism: Continually feeling that tasks are not being done properly may indicate a decline in one's ability to perform tasks to previous standards, a subtle sign of cognitive change.
• Poor concentration: Reporting difficulties concentrating in midlife was associated with an increased likelihood of developing dementia, as it relates to cognitive function.

Individuals observing any of these signs are advised to consult a healthcare professional for expert guidance.