We’ve collected a number of web pages offering lists of symptoms of the onset of demetia, and have distilled out 18 of the signs. Keep in mind that the occasional and not long lasting appearance of one of these is most likely a sign of aging. However, regular occurrence of one or more of these signs is an indication that a visit to a physician or clinincal psychologist specializing in cognition is warrented.

The web links contributing to this list are collected at the bottom of this post.

Here are the 18 distilled signs:

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life fairly often — not the occasional forgetting of a name or date that comes back later.

2. Challenges in planning or solving problems, or following recipes or keeping track of monthly bills.

3. Difficulty with numbers and/or handling money in shops.

4. Difficulty making familiar trips (walking or driving).

5. A failing sense of direction and spatial orientation, including wandering and getting lost.

6. Confusion about time or place.

7. Repeating questions after a short interval.

8. Vision problems, including difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast — not due to cataracts or other eye problems.

9. Problems with words in conversations or writing, including repeating themselves or stopping mid-conversation unable to continue; also failure to find the right word.

10. Difficulty following storylines.

11. Misplacing things (often in very unusal places) and losing the ability to retrace steps to find them.

12. Decreased or poor judgment, including mishandling money, and decreased attention to grooming and keeping clean.

13. Notable weight changes.

14. Withdrawal from work or social activities.

15. Apathy, or loss of spontaneity and sense of initiative.

16. Changes in mood and personality, including becoming confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious, or aggressive.

17. Lessening of ability to focus and concentrate.

18. Failure to recognize people they know.

Here are links to the web pages contributing:

10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s

What are the early signs of dementia?

10 Early Symptoms of Dementia

Dementia – early signs

What Are the Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease?

Symptoms of dementia

Symptoms

Well, that was a weird moment’ and other signs of dementia family members should watch for [Possible paywall]

Dementia’s Signs May Come Early [Possible paywall]

All links have been added to Alzheimer’s > Diagnosis & Tests