Neurodegenative Disease Support

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“Early Indicators of Dementia: 5 Behavior Changes to Look for After 50” (lemm.ee)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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TLDR: This list does not automatically mean someone has dementia—other causes may include drugs, stress, mental illness, or other medical conditions. Seek medical help before jumping to conclusions.

Apathy: nothing is interesting.
Affective dysregulation: sad, anxious, crabby.
Lack of impulse control: frustrated, angry, irrationally stubborn, obsessive.
Social inappropriateness: shockingly uninhibited or rude in words, deeds.
Abnormal perceptions or thoughts: suspicious, hearing or seeing things that aren’t there.

I wish I’d had this article 10 years ago. 20/20 hindsight, my partner in her early 50s went through years of prodromal (beginning signs of) Alzheimer’s before receiving a diagnosis at age 61. The list is scary-accurate.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

52 here and all but #5 are hitting me. Shite.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Well—could be any one of a number of things. Article clearly states (and I'll second) that this isn't a comprehensive checklist that points only to dementia.

I'm not going to say what else it might be, as there are so many possibilities. That could generate a raft of options for a total hypochondriac meltdown set of things to worry about.

I will add that partner's medical & psych team ran through a whole bunch of other options, and none of the obvious meds, counseling, physical tests seemed to help or point anywhere else.

It's a list to pursue seriously with healthcare providers, though.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Just some anecdotal data, it can definitely start before 50. My brother was in his late 40s when he started showing changes (not necessarily symptoms). He was 48 when he quit working (I think he was actually fired). My sister is older, but appears to be in the early stages (not remembering things from earlier in the same conversation, needs help making decisions). I'm 50 and starting to have memory lapses.

Definitely don't wait until 50 to look for symptoms.