As people age, they may develop dementia. Dementia itself is neither an actual disease on its own nor a normal side effect of growing old. It is a blanket term for impairment in cognitive thinking or decision making ability and degeneration of memory. It is usually caused by illnesses, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and others. If your elderly loved ones begin displaying signs of dementia, you may need to seek medical help. You may even need to find dementia care Denver if they are no longer able to care for themselves. How can you recognize dementia though? There are certain signs that indicate the possibility of dementia. 

1. Short Term Memory Loss

Forgetting some things is normal for humans. It is rare that anyone possesses a perfect memory. However, if a person with previously decent memory begins frequently forgetting small things they used to remember, something may be wrong. Examples include having trouble keeping track of items like keys, wallets and purses and not remembering everyday tasks like locking the door or paying bills. 

2. Concentration Difficulties

Having difficulty focusing is another worrying sign. So is struggling to complete a concentration heavy task or keep up with a conversation. Constantly losing track of what they were saying is another possible indication that older individuals may have dementia, as is excessive confusion. 

3. Drastic Mood Swings

Something else you should take note of if you suspect possible dementia is sudden changes in mood. If an elderly person is going from cold to hot on the spur of the moment, loving one minute and filled with ire and hate the next, you should be worried. Unexpected explosions or long rants without previous hints of anger from a usually mild tempered person might mean he or she has dementia. 

There are many other signs that may indicate dementia. These are some of the more common ones, and it is important to keep them in mind since they can be easily overlooked.