Normal Forgetfulness or Early Dementia? 6 Signs It’s Time for a Neurological Evaluation

Everyone forgets things from time to time. Maybe you have too much on your plate and overload yourself. Maybe you didn’t get a good night’s sleep. Maybe you’re focused on a presentation at work that’s eating up all of your spare memory.

Sometimes, though, forgetfulness can progress to something more, like early dementia. How can you tell the difference?

At Advanced Neurology Specialists, LLC, board-certified neurologist Dr. Cory Lamar and our team provide treatments to help slow down dementia’s effects and allow patients to retain a good quality of life for longer. 

If you’re concerned that maybe your forgetfulness might be something more than normal stress, here are six signs that indicate you should request a neurological evaluation.

What is dementia and how does it manifest?

Dementia is a state of brain dysfunction caused by physical changes to the brain’s structure, including changes that affect nerves’ ability to communicate with each other. In its early stage, it’s called mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

The three most common types of dementia are Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and dementia with Lewy bodies, sometimes called Lewy body dementia (LBD).

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting over seven million people in the United States alone.

Beta-amyloid plaques and tau protein tangles developing in the brain characterize the disease. These abnormal structures interfere with cell-to-cell communication and lead to symptoms of impaired memory, mood, thinking, and behavior.

No diagnostic test or cure for the disease exists.

Vascular dementia results from damage to the brain’s blood vessels, leading to restricted blood flow. The lack of blood and the nutrients it brings affect reasoning, planning, judgment, and attention, disrupting daily life.

Like Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia has no diagnostic test or cure. Doctors make a diagnosis through neurological evaluations and ruling out other causes.

LBD refers to two separate conditions: dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson’s disease dementia. In both cases, Lewy bodies, small tangles of the protein alpha-synuclein, damage brain tissue.

LBD differs a bit from the other two forms in that doctors can manage some symptoms successfully ‌if they catch the condition early enough.

Six signs that forgetfulness may be early dementia

Here are six common signs that indicate you should get a neurological evaluation to determine if you have early dementia.

1. Task disruptions

If you struggle with complex tasks at work, forget meetings and social engagements, or have difficulty managing household bills and chores, get tested.

2. Behavior and personality changes

You may be at risk if you become uncharacteristically irritable, anxious, impulsive, or socially withdrawn.

3. Language difficulties

Just struggling with the occasional word is common and not a concern in and of itself, but if you  regularly have trouble finding the right words, stop mid-sentence because you can’t remember what you were going to say, or struggle to follow conversations, you could be at risk.

4. Short-term memory loss

You may have early dementia if you routinely forget recently learned information or repeat the same questions multiple times.

5. Planning and problem-solving issues

If you find it difficult to make simple plans or solve routine problems, seek a neurological evaluation to determine the root cause.

6. Vision and movement changes

Dementia can also cause physical problems. If you experience difficulty judging distances, recognizing objects, or balancing properly, get checked out.

Not every forgotten word or misplaced key indicates that you have dementia, but if the problems are interfering with your daily life, it’s time to seek a neurological evaluation to determine the source of the problem.

Call Advanced Neurology Specialists, LLC, in Naples, Florida, at 239-667-5878 to set up a consultation with Dr. Lamar, or book an appointment online with us today.