6 dementia symptoms that can show up years before a diagnosis - Yahoo

What the report says

Yahoo Entertainment reported on a health article explaining that some symptoms linked to dementia risk may emerge long before a formal diagnosis, even before noticeable memory or thinking problems. The piece focused mainly on Alzheimer’s disease, described as the cause of most dementia cases, and noted that biological changes such as brain shrinkage and buildup of amyloid beta plaques and tau tangles can begin many years before daily functioning is affected.

The article identified six possible early warning signs seen in some people later diagnosed with Alzheimer’s: late-life depression or anxiety; increased apathy, irritability or agitation; sleep problems; reduced sense of smell; slower walking or changes in gait; and weaker handgrip strength. It cited comments from Timothy Chang, an associate professor of neurology at UCLA, and Adam Turnbull, an instructor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University, who emphasized that emotional, sensory and physical changes may occur before cognitive symptoms in some cases.

The report also cautioned that these symptoms do not mean a person will necessarily develop dementia. Sleep disorders, mood changes, frailty or loss of smell can have many causes, and experts quoted in the piece advised older adults not to panic but to seek medical evaluation if symptoms appear alongside concerns about memory or thinking.

The broader significance is that earlier recognition of risk factors may help people discuss testing, treatment options and prevention strategies with clinicians. The article noted that newer diagnostic tools, including scans, lumbar puncture and blood tests, can detect Alzheimer’s-related biomarkers earlier, while lifestyle changes may reduce dementia risk for some people.