We can all be forgetful. However, if your “senior moments” seem to occur more than they used to, it may be time to take a hard look at your brain health.
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer’s or dementia can appear in your 40s and 50s. It’s essential to take note of your signs and seek professional treatment. The sooner you notice your symptoms, the sooner you can do something about them.
Here are some common symptoms of early-onset memory loss.
Trouble with Daily Tasks
Memory loss can affect your ability to do tasks like cleaning your house, washing the dishes and dressing. You may notice you easily forget recently learned information or forget important dates and appointments.
Have you noticed you’re struggling to balance your checkbook or pay your bills on time? It’s also common to have trouble creating and following a plan, especially if it involves numbers.
Forgetfulness and Speech
Misplacing your purse or jacket isn’t a problem if you can easily find it later. Putting things in the wrong spot and not finding them again is when you should take note. You may also find you’re putting things in odd places and can’t retrace your steps.
Memory loss also affects your ability to follow a train of thought. Do you ever find yourself speaking and forget what you were going to say mid-sentence? Or maybe you struggle to find the right words more frequently than before. It’s common to use incorrect words to describe common objects because your brain can’t form the right statement.
Getting Lost
You may find yourself getting lost on the way to a familiar location like the grocery store or a friend’s house. You start out fine, but when you come to a stoplight you may forget where you are or where you were going.
Changes in Mood and Judgement
Your loved ones may notice changes in your mood or attitude before you do.
Memory loss can make you increasingly:
- Irritable
- Confused
- Suspicious
- Depressed
- Anxious
- Sad
- Angry
Early-onset cognitive impairment also affects your judgment. Have you made more frequent accounting errors or tried to pay more for goods and services than you needed to? Are you skimping on chores or personal hygiene? Poor driving and accidents are other signs of impaired judgment.
Biological Influences
Biological symptoms can indicate a predisposition for cognitive diseases and decline. These symptoms can be detected years before any mental or physical symptoms appear. Understanding your genetic background will help you evaluate the likelihood of developing a cognitive condition.
You can also get tested for things like:
- Toxins
- Vitamin deficiencies
- Abnormal insulin, hormone or pregnenolone levels
The results may reveal your risk for cognitive diseases. Seek medical professionals familiar with interventions and principles related to dementia diseases and abnormal cognitive decline mitigation. You can also contact your primary care physician to refer you to a neurologist or other specialist who can help you manage your memory loss.
Kemper House Worthington is committed to raising awareness about the sneaky effects of early memory trouble. Schedule your virtual tour of our premier Alzheimer’s and dementia care facility in Columbus, Ohio.