5 signs of dementia that are not memory loss

Dementia, an umbrella term used to describe a range of neurological conditions affecting the brain that worsen over time, is one of the most impactful diseases in the world. This common and disabling disease that affects the brain occurs when brain cells are damaged or die, leading to progressive declines in cognitive functions, mood, behavior, and personality.

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With over 55 million people with dementia worldwide currently, nearly 10 million new cases develop each year. The number of people with dementia is growing worldwide and is expected to triple by 2050. Despite the prevalence of the disabling disease, when most people think of dementia, the first thing that comes to mind is memory loss, like forgetting names, appointments, or where things are. While memory decline is very common, dementia involves much more than that. Early on, there are other changes, subtle signals, that often go unnoticed. These can be changes in behaviour, language, perception, coordination, or mood.

Dr. Bing, MD, MPH, a renowned neurologist with over 170K followers on Instagram, says the same.

Researchers warn that spotting these non-memory signs early can lead to faster diagnosis, better care, and more time to plan. Many dementia types – such as Alzheimer’s, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia, and vascular dementia – show these symptoms. But because these signs are subtler, they are sometimes ignored or chalked up to stress, age, or mood. That delay in recognizing these non-memory signals means missed opportunities for early treatment, support, and slowing of progression.

But if you know what to watch for, you can help yourself or someone you care about get help sooner. Let’s look at 5 non-memory signs of dementia: what they are, how to spot them, which dementia types tend to show them, and when to talk to a doctor. Recognizing these signs is not about fear – it’s about awareness, so that early support, treatment, or lifestyle changes can make a real difference.

What it looks like: Someone who used to manage their finances well may start making odd or risky choices: paying bills late, giving money to strangers, and ignoring major bills. Or they may neglect personal safety or hygiene – wearing heavy clothes in hot weather, or leaving the stove on. These changes are more than simple forgetfulness; they show a decline in reasoning and executive thinking.

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What causes it: Parts of the brain responsible for planning, reasoning, and impulse control (frontal lobes) get affected in many types of dementia: Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. When they degrade, judgment suffers.

How to spot it:

Listen for complaints from family/community about odd financial decisions.

Observe if a person misses important deadlines, behaves in unsafe ways (e.g., driving when it’s unsafe, ignoring risks).

Notice when someone seems less able to organize daily tasks that require planning (cooking, paying bills, scheduling).

What it looks like: A person may have trouble judging distances (e.g., misjudge steps, bump into furniture), read similarly to before, but struggle with puzzles or following moving objects. They might fail to recognize familiar places or get confused while driving in familiar neighborhoods. Colors or contrast might become difficult. In some cases, visual experiences like hallucinations occur.

What causes it: Some dementias affect brain areas that process visual information – posterior cortical atrophy (a variant of Alzheimer’s), Lewy body dementia, etc. The visual cortex or connections deteriorate, so seeing is less about eyes and more about processing what is seen.

How to spot it:

Notice difficulties reading, especially small text or low contrast.

Watch for balking at stairs or “tripping” over things that were easy before.

Confusion driving or navigating in once-familiar places.

Complaints of seeing things that others don’t (in some dementias).

What it looks like: Sudden or gradual shifts in personality: becoming withdrawn or passive when previously outgoing; showing uncharacteristic irritability; increased anxiety, apathy, distrust; being more emotionally volatile. Sometimes people become suspicious or overly fearful.

What causes it: Damage to the frontal or temporal lobes, or certain protein buildups, can affect the regulation of mood and behavior. Also, changes in neurotransmitters (chemicals in brain communication) contribute. Frontotemporal dementia especially shows early personality changes.

How to spot it:

People close to you (family, friends) say the person “isn’t the same” in how they react.

Sudden loss of interest in hobbies or social activities.

Unusual mood fluctuations without an obvious trigger.

Increased emotional reactions – crying, anger, fear – in situations that didn’t used to show that.

What it looks like: Not just forgetting a name now and then, but trouble following conversations, stopping mid-sentence, substituting wrong words (calling a “watch” a “hand clock” or using a totally unrelated word), difficulty finding the right word, and trouble understanding what others say. Written language may suffer.

What causes it: Damage in language-center regions in the brain, e.g., Wernicke’s or Broca’s areas, temporal lobes. Different dementias have different patterns: primary progressive aphasia (a dementia type) has language damage early.

How to spot it:

Notice when someone repeats themselves or fails to follow simple dialogues.

Check if they write messages/emails/texts that are confusing.

See if they mislabel objects or use odd words.

Watch out for difficulty reading or understanding when someone describes things.

What it looks like: A person may seem more easily distracted, unable to follow multi-step instructions (e.g., cooking a recipe), or have trouble finding their way through tasks they used to handle fine, like balancing the checkbook, planning a trip, or organizing a schedule. Tasks take much longer, or they may give up.

What causes it: Many dementias (vascular, Alzheimer’s, etc.) affect the brain’s “executive function” network. Blood flow reduction, small vessel disease, or protein pathology can slow processing. The ability to pay attention or switch between tasks declines.

How to spot it:

Watch whether someone loses track when doing tasks involving steps.

Notice if they can’t multitask anymore (e.g., cooking while talking).

Observe slowed responses in conversation, more pausing, or hesitation.

Missed deadlines and misplaced things often because attention was diverted.