What Are the 15 Most Common Signs of Dementia?

Dementia is a group of conditions that affect memory, thinking, and social skills to the point that they interfere with daily life. To receive a dementia diagnosis, a person must show a significant decline in mental ability that impacts routine functioning. While there’s no cure, early diagnosis can help slow the disease’s progression. Treatment and medications may ease certain symptoms, but the benefits are typically modest.

1. Memory loss and distortion

One of the earliest signs of dementia is short-term memory loss. A person may clearly recall events from years ago but forget what happened earlier in the day. Over time, they may confuse people or events, blend multiple memories together, or mistake an old memory for something recent. These distortions are often among the first noticeable signs of cognitive decline.