Surprising Symptoms of Dementia: Part 1

It’s our mission to make dementia caregiving easier for families caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, lewy body dementia, vascular dementia, or any other type of dementia. We believe that in order to create a more dementia friendly world, we must first create a caregiver friendly world. That's why we create free educational training videos like this one so that anyone with an internet connection can get access to dementia care information.

Discover unexpected signs of dementia that are often missed. From subtle changes in walking to moments of clarity, learn what to watch for. Subscribe for more caregiving insights!

Remember, while these signs can be indicative of dementia, they can also be linked to other factors.

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DISCLAIMER: The content of this video - or any content by Dementia Careblazers - does not replace the need for healthcare professionals. Our content is not healthcare advice and is not a substitute for your own healthcare. It is for general education and demonstration only. Do not use this content to self-diagnose or self-treat any health, medical, or physical condition. By consuming content from Dementia Careblazers, you agree to hold harmless and indemnify Dementia Careblazers LLC for any and all losses, injuries, or damages resulting from any and all claims that arise from your use or misuse of this content. All content or recommendations on the company’s website, social media, blog, or email series. All comments from Dementia Careblazers’ are expressions of opinion only.

In case you haven’t met me, my name is Natali Edmonds and I am a board certified geropsychologist. That means that I am a clinical psychologist who specializes in working with older adults. One day, while hiking a trail, I came up with the idea for Careblazers and I decided to see if posting videos online could provide help to the many other Careblazers in the world who don’t get to have help come directly to them in their homes. I hope that this work helps you in some way on your caregiving journey.
#careblazer #dementia #dementiacare

[CHall]

Very, very helpful. These applied to my husband’s early dementia signs. I thought I was losing my mind because sometimes he seemed so normal. Lol

[dracarys-lhku]

Loved one had same doctor for years. The doctor's office was hostile at first. The doctor themself was very understanding and torough but some of the staff (an rn in particular) was downright rude. It's bad enough to deal with "having to tattle" that what the loved one is saying isn't the whole story. But when you get hostility instead of help....I understand there are evil people and health trying to protect but ask questions, keep record and advocate if necessary. This rn was almost accusatory.

So in front of the loved one you have to explain, this once cosmetic concerned well kept parent, now refuses bathing, can't keep up with when they last showered, goes a full month without showering and claims they just did yesterday. Mixes clean & dirty clothes. You kno they aren't bathing bc you smell it. You know its been a month by timed evidence. Clothes getting grimy. Particular clothes remain dirty after they claim "just washed." You MAKE them clean up for dr appointment. They appear and act perfectly normal. You become a "liar" and a "suspect." No one believes they take the time and work, and attention they do because they appear very normal just old in front of anyone. You have to orchestrate almost every aspect of their life for them or they would fall ill & probably not stay alive within a month. They have to be gotten up, told to get dressed, told to clean up, eating has to be controled (like a 7 year old) they dont know when they ate, what they ate, how much they ate. They have to be made to drink meaured amounts of water bc if not they won't drink anything at all. They have to be made to get up (or they sit & "do" crossword puzzes for 6 hours. You have to tell them to go to the bathroom, have to make sure they wash their hands. Not complaining, it could be worse. Just saying it is hard being someone else's autonomic nervous system for them. You become they planning section of their brain for them.

Mine used to eat certain foods & made meals out of them. Now, "I never could stand "those foods." You can't tell them they did eat them for 40 years. They don't know what you're talking about. Yet others at dr or family events see the same person they always were.

[oursublimealabamalife]

48 years old was told i have vascular dementia about a month ago. You are dead on with this list. Also these are things the Dr. Will not see in that 20 minute visit. So we have to speak up. ❤

[Rhonda_Maldonado_]

1:25 Lack of affect (emotional expression)
3:08 Walking changes
4:30 Moments of clarity
5:33 Visual hallucinations
6:41 Good language abilities

[cindymccafferty]

One sign of dementia nobody mentions is going off on people and screaming at them for no or stupid minor reasons. My mother rode with a friend. The friend got lost. She went off on the friend about how stupid she was. Inappropriate anger. Broken record raving about the same thing over and over and won’t stop.

[lindastevens]

I am a retired RN and cared for my husband for 3+ years. He was a Veteran and suffered 2 Cva. That was when he really started showing more dementia, and a lot of PTSD came out leading to more symptoms. All of dementia needs to be realized along with death and dying. Thank y❤o❤u❤

[toniberryman]

My husband died a few months ago not totally from Alzheimers. So far I realize I saw 4 out of 5 of these topics a few years before he was diagnosed. No one got it! Neurologist told me he probably had dementia 5 -10 years before diagnosis. Such a horrible disease. Thanks Dr Natalie

[judyevans]

This is very helpful. My husband has all of these symptoms. He has been diagnosed as mild cognitive impairment. One if the most challenging aspects is that he can be on and we have great conversations-he is the man I married. Also at the cognitive testing the psychologist said that my description of what was going on with my husband sounded like a different person than the psychiatrists description. She said it sounded like it was two different people. I told her she doesn’t live with him and see him everyday. If I wasn’t so sure of myself about this I might have been taken aback and doubted myself. I plan to watch more of your videos. Thanks for all of your help!!!

[tjktcsd]

You hit on everything that I have seen my wife go through at one time or another, some of these things when I think about it have been going on for the past few years only much worse now. The main problem I’m having now is she’s gone from having a heathy appetite to no appetite at all for the past two weeks she want let me feed her but yet she can’t half feed herself. Fluid intake is greatly reduced urinating greatly reduced I feel like I’m letting her down. Her doctor only suggestion is to hospitalize her, she chose to be DNR some time ago. These are hard decisions to make pray for us.

[figmo]

I just lost my mother last June. She had vascular dementia. She had these symptoms, especially the non-emotion and the hallucinations. She had never seen me perform, so I took her to a gig I had, and she sat there for the full hour without any expression. She didn't even applaud. The rest of the room was lively, so I know it wasn't my performance. What scares me is that she appeared "with it" enough for my brother to railroad her into changing her will.

[kevinnunya]

My wife has changed her walking pace (much slower now), sees things that are not there (people), and at times seems quite normal until you start asking her specific questions about places, dates, etc. She also has a limited ability now to write any sentence longer than two words and has difficulty signing her name to anything. She is 59 and I know she has presented symptoms for at least 5 years before she was officially diagnosed. It took me two years to talk her into getting a medical assessment for her problem, which was time lost as she had stopped driving, cooking, shopping and really just sat at home and I had to beg her to leave the house.

[mac-juot]

I noticed that on my neighbor . It was sad because she always smiled a lot walked daily. One day she started to swear over the fact I live with my was in tears because she seemed totally normal after.... She thought her daughter was a sister

[ruthr]

This was very informative and intelligent. My husband (I believe to be at Stage 3) walks very slowly and with a shuffle. If a regular person spoke to him they’d never suspect anything wrong with him. However, he has OCD symptoms….if he thinks of an idea he has to complete it immediately. He can’t stand any kind of mess around him.

[jennifletcher]

I love this video!! Definitely makes me feel more validated about living with my spouse who was diagnosed with Vascular Dementia and most of the family really do not "believe" it because they aren't around him for long periods of time!

[chrissy-]

My Dad had lewy body dementia and he would have sometimes an hour or so of real clarity. It was like a gift. ❤

[mustangtam]

I love this channel I am a care giver for my mother in law she lives with us and has Dementia and I finds that your advice and expertise is so helpful! A lot of things I didn’t not understand I now do with your help! I’m greatly appreciated of your knowledge!

[amandafaram]

I have trouble with my partner being ok, then dramatically changeing. Its tough. Thanks for your words of wisdom. Very helpful xxx

[tpippen]

Thank you for putting this information out. In 2018, at the age of 49, my wife was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. Back then she could speak fine and it was difficult to tell, to the casual observer, that she had dementia.

[glennjarvis]

Back in 2013 (when we didn't know!) my Dad used to see "fleas" jumping around in his apartment, and I mean jumping, two or three feet off the floor. Later in the stages of LBD he used to see children disassembling his walker or outside of the window (15th floor). He passed away last year, but I'm still involved in the community and still watch your videos Natali!

[TsuNami]

Yes, extremely helpful! Number 5 is what I am going thru with mom. The rest of the family thinks I’m being a drama queen and have no idea what I’m talking about. SO frustrating! But on the other hand, bringing it to a doctors attention is a bell that I can’t unring. Her memory loss is getting worse, but I don’t dare talk to family about it anymore. Truly at a loss when to take appropriate action to help her.