Dementia: 4 early signs that may arise before memory loss

When you talk about dementia, one of the first early symptoms you talk about is memory loss. However, there may be others who may not be so familiar and you should know them. Know what a doctor has to say.

06/07/2026
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Sis memory loss the only early symptom of dementia you should be aware of? The truth is that one of the most common, but it should not be the only one to take into account. There are more signs that may appear before a more serious diagnosis and the best thing is to identify them to avoid problems later.

Doctor Johannes Uys of Broadgate General Practice revealed to The Mirror some of the early signs of dementia, in addition to memory loss, which should concern him. Some are physical and may not be that obvious.

Dementia. Early signs to be taken into account

The expert warns that some of the symptoms may vary from person to person. “If you notice any of these early signs in yourself or in a loved one, it is important to consult a health professional for a complete evaluation. Early detection and intervention can help control symptoms and provide the necessary support,” the expert said.

Thus, the symptoms that identify are related to an unstable march, some lack of coordination, tremors in the limbs and some lack of way to perform basic tasks from day to day.

“ Risk factors for dementia vary considerably, some of them inevitable, such as age, while others can be controlled through lifestyle adjustments in the first years of life”, continues the expert.

The early symptom of dementia that may arise at meals

Failure to maintain a balanced diet, eating only sweets and carbohydrates, is an early symptom of frontotemporal dementia, a set of diseases affecting two areas of the brain: the frontal lobe and the lateral lobes (temporal lobes).

Neurologists believe this is due to a loss of taste sensitivity. “In cognitive decline, the brain changes the pace of sending messages to the body: the perception of taste and thirst are no longer the same“, explains nutritionist Joice Abreu to the newspaper Metropolis.

Socially inadequate behavior, loss of empathy and insensitivity in relation to other people's feelings, failure to comply with personal hygiene, mistakes in the construction of sentences and laughter and uncontrollable crying are other symptoms that should be attentive.

It is recalled that dementia is a generic term used to designate a set of diseases that are characterized by cognitive alterations that may be associated with memory loss, language disorders and disorientation in time or space. For most there is no treatment. However, it has been proven that about 40% of dementia can be prevented or delayed.

The World Health Organization estimates that there are 47.5 million people with dementia worldwide, a number that can reach 75.6 million by 2030 and almost triple by 2050, to 135.5 million.

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