During the New Year's feast, early cognitive changes in elderly relatives can be detected. Experts advise to observe important signs that may indicate the need for a doctor's consultation carefully but delicately.
The New Year holidays are a time when communication with loved ones becomes more intense and prolonged. It is during these days that alarming changes in the behavior or condition of elderly parents or relatives may become particularly evident. Repeated questions, loss of the thread of conversation, or uncharacteristic apathy are not reasons for panic, but a strong argument to check their health. Gerontologists note that such meetings are a great opportunity to notice things we usually overlook in the routine of everyday life.
Seven Signs of Dementia
Doctors highlight several persistent symptoms of dementia that are worth paying attention to. However, one should only worry if they are recurring and not just a one-time occurrence due to fatigue, stress, or poor health. Multiple, regularly recurring signs that begin to interfere with normal life should raise alarm.
Gaps in Short-Term Memory. A person repeatedly asks the same question, forgets what was just said, or the details of recent events that occurred in their presence. This is not simple forgetfulness, but a disruption of episodic memory.
Loss of Logic in Conversation. During a lively festive discussion, a person suddenly loses the essence of the conversation, struggles to follow the change of topics, or responds inappropriately. Noisy gatherings can be a serious test of cognitive abilities.
Disorientation in Time and Place. A person suddenly forgets what the current date is or even starts talking about March 8, even though there is snow outside. You suddenly notice that a relative, who decided to walk to the kitchen in a familiar apartment, suddenly gets lost and cannot remember where it is located. This symptom is noticeably different from simple absent-mindedness.
Changes in Character and Mood. Increased irritability, unmotivated anxiety, withdrawal, or apathy in an otherwise joyful festive atmosphere. These changes often confuse relatives.
Difficulty with Familiar Actions. You ask a relative to stir the salad or get an extra fork, and they suddenly have difficulty. They might even say that they have completely forgotten the recipe for a long-familiar dish. Another alarming sign is confusion and awkwardness in using ordinary cutlery or in the sequence of simple actions.
Loss of Common Sense. You notice that a relative is making illogical or financially unreasonable decisions, displaying inappropriate reactions, or making strange statements that go beyond their usual behavior.
Denial of Problems. A person actively denies their obvious difficulties to those around them, gets angry when mentioned, or shifts the blame onto others. In medicine, this condition is known as anosognosia. It is characteristic of alcoholism and drug addiction, as well as neurological disorders (for example, after a stroke and in Alzheimer's disease).
What to Do
Experts urge maximum tact if you suspect a loved one has noticeable distortions in their usual behavior. It is best not to accuse the relative by bluntly stating the alarming signs you have noticed, but to express concern and offer your help. For example, you could say: "I noticed that you have been having a hard time lately; let's go to the doctor together, just to get checked out." This approach helps maintain trust and does not scare the elderly person away from visiting a specialist. A timely diagnosis will help start controlling the situation and reduce the manifestation of symptoms.
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