A new study from University College London shows that personality changes before the age of 60 they can be an early sign of dementiaeven two decades before the diagnosis, writes . Although behavioral changes in middle age are often attributed midlife crisisthe research identified six specific symptoms of depressionwhich are associated with an increased risk of disease.
Scientists point out that the first warning signs are often not the forgetting of keys, but the subtle erosion of personality. A person may begin to experience an unexpected loss of self-confidence and in situations that he previously managed with aplomb, the inability to face common problems suddenly appears. This internal struggle is often accompanied by constant nervousness and a feeling of inexplicable tension, which is also transferred to relationships – a typical manifestation is a sudden lack of affection for others or emotional coldness.
However, changes are also manifested in work and daily activities. A person may begin to suffer from chronic dissatisfaction with how they perform their tasks, accompanied by increasingly significant difficulty concentrating. According to experts, we should not take these mental states lightly. These subtle symptoms pose the same risk to brain health as physical factors, specifically hearing loss or excessive alcohol consumption. If they appear in middle age, they can be a silent messenger of changes that will not fully manifest themselves until two decades later.
The scientists emphasized that not all depressive symptoms increase the risk of dementia equallyand is therefore recommended focus on specific symptom patterns instead of treating depression as a single disease. Gill Livingston, professor of psychiatry, said these personality changes she also saw in her practice, while one woman developed behavioral changes and was later diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, which significantly alters personality and emotional state.
As dementia progresses, others appear behavioral changesI agitation, depressive symptoms, anxiety, wandering, aggression or hallucinationsbecause the individual reacts to fear, frustration and cognitive difficulties. Illness can too intensify existing character traitsso an impatient or anxious person can become even more so. These findings highlight that tracking personality changes in middle age can be key for early identification of the risk of dementia and preventive intervention.
Scientists have identified six key warning signs that you should definitely not ignore after forty:
- Loss of self-confidence and inner insecurity: A person begins to doubt his abilities, which he previously managed with an overview.
- Inability to face common problems: Even small obstacles suddenly seem like an insurmountable wall, leading to resignation.
- Emotional coldness towards the environment: A sudden lack of affection for loved ones or friends may signal that the brain stops processing social bonds properly.
- Constant nervousness and inner tension: A feeling that you are constantly “on pins and needles” with no apparent external cause.
- Chronic dissatisfaction with one’s own performance: Constantly questioning the way you do work or homework.
- Problems with concentration: Inability to maintain attention while reading, talking or watching a movie.
