What is Dementia ?

Dementia is a general term used to describe a decline in mental ability that’s severe enough to interfere with daily life. It’s not a single disease, but rather a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking, reasoning, and social abilities.

In 2024, 8.7% of Canadians over age 65 have some form of dementia (Alzheimer Society of Canada, 2025), and close to 477,000 Canadians live with diagnosed dementia, with almost two-thirds being women . The numbers are significant: almost 10 Canadians are diagnosed with dementia every hour (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2022). Looking ahead, researchers project that nearly 1 million Canadians will be living with dementia by 2030, and more than 1.7 million by 2050 (Alzheimer Society of Canada, 2025)

Young onset dementia (affecting people under age 65) presents distinct challenges, often leading to delayed diagnoses and difficulty obtaining workplace accommodations. The caregiving burden is also substantial: 45% of caregivers for seniors living with dementia show symptoms of distress, compared to 26% for caregivers of seniors with other health conditions (Alzheimer Society of Canada, 2025).

Recognizing the early warning signs of dementia can help you or your loved ones seek medical attention sooner, access appropriate care, and make informed decisions about treatment options. Here are ten early signs that warrant attention.

1. Forgetting Important Information That Affects Everyday Activities

One of the most common early signs of dementia is forgetting recently learned information, important dates, or events. While occasionally forgetting an appointment or a name is normal, someone with dementia may repeatedly ask for the same information, rely heavily on memory aids or family members, or forget things they just learned moments ago.

This goes beyond typical age-related forgetfulness. For instance, forgetting what you had for breakfast occasionally is normal, but not remembering that you ate breakfast at all is a potential warning sign.

2. Getting Lost in Familiar Places

Becoming disoriented in neighborhoods they’ve known for years or forgetting how to get home from the grocery store can be an early indicator. Some people may not recognize where they are even in familiar settings, or they might have difficulty understanding directions they’ve followed countless times before.

3. Losing Track of Seasons and Time Passing

While we all occasionally lose track of what day it is, someone with early dementia might not understand whether it’s summer or winter, or may believe they need to go to work at a job they retired from years ago. The passage of time becomes confusing, and they may struggle to distinguish between past and present events.

4. Struggling with Routine Financial Tasks

Bills that were once managed effortlessly now pile up unpaid. Bank statements go unchecked. Someone might make uncharacteristic financial decisions, become vulnerable to scams they would have easily spotted before, or have difficulty calculating tips or making change. These aren’t occasional math errors but a noticeable decline in handling money matters they previously managed with ease.

5. Abandoning Hobbies and Social Interactions

A person who once looked forward to weekly bridge games, book club meetings, or community events may suddenly lose interest or make excuses to avoid participating. This withdrawal often stems from awareness that something feels different and a desire to avoid situations where difficulties might become obvious to others. The isolation can deepen as they pull back from activities that once brought joy.

6. Difficulty Finding Words and Following Conversations

Communication becomes increasingly challenging. They might stop mid-sentence, unable to find the word they’re looking for, or substitute incorrect words in ways that make sentences confusing. Following television shows or group conversations becomes harder, and they may repeat the same stories without realizing they’ve already shared them.

7. Demonstrating Uncharacteristic Poor Judgment

Decision making abilities shift noticeably. This might appear as giving away large sums of money inappropriately, falling for obvious scams, neglecting personal hygiene when they were always well-groomed, or making choices that seem completely out of character. These aren’t occasional lapses but represent a pattern of declining judgment.

8. Placing Items in Illogical Locations

Finding the TV remote in the freezer, discovering mail in the bathroom cabinet, or locating car keys in the refrigerator becomes more common. Unlike simply misplacing items, the person cannot retrace their thinking to find things and may increasingly accuse others of moving or stealing their belongings.

9. Changes in Vision and Spatial Awareness

Some individuals experience difficulty interpreting what they see, problems reading, misjudging distances while walking or driving, struggling to distinguish colors, or not recognizing their own reflection. These visual-spatial difficulties are distinct from typical age-related vision changes like cataracts and involve how the brain processes visual information.

10. Personality Shifts and Mood Changes

A typically easy going person becomes easily agitated or suspicious. Someone who was always cautious might act impulsively. These personality changes often become more pronounced when the person feels confused or uncomfortable. They may exhibit increased anxiety, fear, depression, or become upset more easily than before, particularly in unfamiliar situations.

What Makes These Signs Significant

The key distinguishing factor is change from someone’s normal baseline behavior. If your mother always needed written reminders and continues to use them, that’s her system. But if she suddenly needs constant reminders when she never did before, that’s concerning. If your father was always a bit forgetful but now can’t remember he just ate lunch, that represents a meaningful shift.

The pattern matters as much as any single symptom. One or two isolated incidents don’t necessarily indicate dementia, but multiple signs appearing together or progressively worsening over time warrant professional evaluation.

Taking Action Early

If several of these signs sound familiar, scheduling a medical appointment is important. Many conditions can mimic dementia symptoms, including thyroid disorders, vitamin deficiencies, sleep apnea, depression, or medication interactions and these are often treatable.

Early diagnosis provides valuable time. It allows access to medications that may help manage symptoms, opportunities to participate in clinical trials, time to make legal and financial arrangements, and the chance to build support networks while the person can still actively participate in planning their care.

Most importantly, early detection addresses uncertainty. Knowing what you’re dealing with, even when the news is difficult, allows families to move forward with appropriate support and realistic plans rather than remaining in confusion and worry.

Moving Forward with Compassion

If you’re concerned about someone you love, approach the conversation with empathy. Choose a private, calm moment. Express your observations gently using specific examples rather than generalizations. Listening to their perspective they may have noticed changes themselves and feel relieved to discuss them. Offer to attend medical appointments together, emphasizing that you’re partners in addressing whatever is happening.

Dementia is not an inevitable part of aging. When something feels wrong, trust that instinct and seek professional guidance. The earlier the evaluation, the more options become available for managing the condition and maintaining quality of life.

References

Alzheimer Society of Canada. (2025, January 1). Dementia numbers in Canada.
https://alzheimer.ca/en/about-dementia/what-dementia/dementia-numbers-canada

Public Health Agency of Canada. (2022). Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System
(CCDSS): Dementia (Alzheimer’s and other dementias).
https://health-infobase.canada.ca/ccdss/data-tool/

Public Health Agency of Canada. (2024, March 8). Dementia in Canada.
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/dementia.html