Withdrawal from work and social events
Many people in the early stages of dementia will find themselves withdrawing from their usual activities. This may include: loss of interest in previous hobbies, not attending any parties or family events, no longer attempting to follow games and group discussions.
However, despite these behaviors seeming like depression at first glance, they can also be considered reactions to stress from cognitive impairment.
Mood or personality changes
Occasionally, one of the symptoms of early-stage dementia is a change in the “way a person acts.” These signs can include: experiencing fearfulness, suspicion, or paranoia, swinging between moods quickly or becoming easily irritable, or displaying uncharacteristic fears and/or agitation.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the way dementia affects the brain can fundamentally change how a person regulates their emotions and personality.
Difficulty in following conversation or thought process
Being able to engage in a conversation or understand new information may prove difficult and mentally tiring. Examples are: finding it hard to grasp the flow of conversation, finding it difficult to follow conversations with multiple speakers, taking an unusually long time to respond to an easy question.
