Easter is often associated with family gatherings and quality moments spent with loved ones. In the midst of feasting and holiday cheer, you can notice your parents or grandparents the first signs of dementia that previously went unnoticed. The disease is known to cause forgetfulness.
You may notice that your loved one has an Easter meeting difficulty including friends or family members, or forgets a family tradition that was part of your celebrations every year, informs the diary.
However, dementia can manifest itself in more subtle or unexpected ways. This disease, which steals memories, can change a person’s tastes, for example. A loved one who was previously not too fond of sweets may suddenly develop a strong fondness for chocolate eggs. Early recognition of dementia symptoms can mean an earlier diagnosis, giving the sufferer access to the right treatment and support. In this article we discuss five early warning signs of dementia you may notice in your loved one this Easter.
Dementia can cause difficulty with thinking and problem solving, which it chooses tax on organizational skills. Wowš loved one could be known as an excellent host. However, if hosting, planning a menu and cooking for a large group of people suddenly becomes a huge problem for him, dementia may be behind it. “Preparing for guests can overwhelm someone who previously excelled at these tasks,” says doctor Johannes Uys.
For some people, brain changes caused by dementia can start to affect their mood. They may feel depressed, anxious or apathetic, which can manifest itself in a social environment such as Easter. “It should not be ignored if a once sociable person begins to withdraw into seclusion. It is important to remember that these signs can appear very subtly,” said Dr. Uys.
“Arousal or anger usually occurs because the symptoms are causing the person confusion and upset. Some people react to this by lashing out at others, these can be key early signs. A change in behavior that is significantly different from normal, especially associated with restlessness and anger, can be a warning sign.” adds Katie Puckering from Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Does the Easter lunch conversation stall, stutter or feel forced? Watch out for these telltale signs of dementia. Dr. Uys states that a person in the early stages of dementia may often repeat themselves or have trouble speaking fluently. “The dining room table, usually the center of social interaction, can become a place of silent struggle,” he warns.
“They can be sitting at a table and the person can ask the same question over and over or lose the thread of the conversation because they have trouble following it. This can cause the person to withdraw from the debate, so you can notice that they are closed off and don’t want to engage,” explains Katie Puckering.
“A person’s eating habits can change with dementia,” adds Angelo Makri from the Alzheimer’s Society. Although it is not entirely clear why taste preferences change, we do know that dementia affects the ability to smell, which in turn affects taste. It causes damage to the olfactory receptors. “A person can then look for foods with a stronger taste, because they can perceive them better than softer foods,” says Makri.
As the disease progresses, preferences change. They may start enjoying tastes they didn’t like before, or refuse foods they’ve always loved. It is not unusual for a person to start craving sweet foods more than before. Easter lunch at two or three in the afternoon can be disorienting for someone in the early stages of dementia because it is not part of their normal routine. This can cause him confusion.
If you notice any symptoms in loved ones, try to talk to them sensitively about it. It can be hard to tell if it was just a “bad day” or a long-term problem, especially if you don’t see each other often. It is worth checking with other family members and people who see the person regularly to find out how often these phenomena recur. Then it is necessary to see a general practitioner as soon as possible.
There are many reasons why someone might have dementia-like symptoms, it may not always be the disease itself. The doctor must rule out other conditions, such as thyroid disorders or vitamin deficiencies, which are relatively common and can be detected by blood and urine analysis.
