Dementia Symptoms: 10 early signs of dementia that appear years before the onset of the disease

Dementia doesn’t appear overnight. Its roots can stretch back a decade or more, silently altering the brain. Many people dismiss subtle changes in memory, mood, or daily functioning as normal aging. However, a landmark study found that lower cognitive test scores predict the development of Alzheimer’s disease 13 to 17 years before diagnosis. Recognizing early signs can be life-changing, offering opportunities for early intervention, lifestyle adjustments, and proactive planning. Dementia is a general term for a group of brain disorders that cause a gradual decline in memory, thinking, reasoning, and the ability to perform everyday activities. It is not a single disease; Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type, followed by vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal de