Khaberni - From forgetting to send an important email, to difficulty concentrating, or even fear of social events, all are common signs of stress. However, experts warn that these issues, which are often attributed to stress, could be early signs of dementia.
According to Dr. Joan Andrews, a researcher in dementia patient care at the University of Stirling: "Nearly everyone experiences loss of focus, forgetfulness, or confusion during busy or stressful times."
She explained: "Of course, these symptoms disappear with rest and recovery. However, many of them are also early symptoms of dementia that are easy to overlook."
The difference between stress and dementia
According to the "Daily Mail," the main difference lies in tracking whether the symptoms persist and worsen over months or years.
So, what are the key early-stage symptoms to be aware of?
Memory loss is one of the most common signs of dementia.
Forgetting appointments
But since forgetting is something many of us experience from time to time, experts warn that patients often do not recognize it as a symptom, attributing it to stress instead.
Dr. Parich Malhotra, a dementia expert at Imperial College London, said: "The key here is whether episodes of memory loss are becoming more frequent, and whether the minor episodes are becoming more severe."
In cases of stress-related forgetfulness, people often suddenly remember what they had forgotten. In the case of dementia, it is likely that the person will not remember what they missed.
Malhotra added: "Loved ones are often the first to notice this."
Technology phobia
Experts warn that if someone has difficulty solving problems and is greatly upset by change, which is often attributed to stress, this could also be a sign of dementia.
Dr. Malhotra said: "What people don't realize is that we need memory to learn new skills, so what is often reported by patients or confused with stress is the inability to assimilate new information, such as computer programs."
Memory challenges also appear in other common symptoms, such as difficulty planning, problem-solving, or confusion about being in a new place.
He added: "Patients often complain that cooking a complex meal or exploring a new place becomes more difficult."
Eye fatigue as a subtle sign
After a hard week of work, people often feel tired, and loss of focus is common.
However, one of the early signs of dementia is difficulty processing visual information.
Regarding this, Dr. Callum Hamilton, a fellow at the Alzheimer's Research Center in the UK, explained: "This might mean that patients wear a shirt the wrong way or hold a mug instead of the handle of a hot coffee cup."
He added: "The first thing that comes to their mind is to believe that the problem is with their vision and to check their glasses prescription. But this could be an early sign of dementia."
Inability to express oneself
Furthermore, the inability to find the right word for something is a common sign of stress, but it could also be a sign of dementia.
Dr. Hamilton said: "We often see patients in the early stages of dementia who fail to remember names or objects they usually remember, such as kitchen utensils or pets."
A person with dementia may find it difficult to engage in conversations. They may forget what they are saying or what someone else has said, and they may struggle to enter into a conversation.
Some individuals may also notice that their skills in spelling, punctuation, grammatical rules, and handwriting deteriorate.
Mood changes
While changes associated with stress typically lessen as stresses decrease or with rest, changes associated with dementia tend to be more persistent and progressive.
For example, they may become more irritable, depressed, fearful, or anxious. They may also become more uninhibited or behave inappropriately and lose spatial awareness.
Avoiding social gatherings
Often, we attribute a lack of social "activity" to fatigue or stress.
But Dr. Malhotra says: "One of these behavioral changes is the withdrawal from social situations." "And often this can be explained by other symptoms, such as feeling less confident in their speech, and hence not wanting to be in a social environment, or a change in personality."
