Almost everyone associates forgetfulness and reverting to old memories as sure signs of dementia onset, but it is often possible the dementia is already “set in” by the time these symptoms appear. Much like heart attacks, there are signs beforehand that seem unrelated that could be very telling when dementia may be coming on.

As the brain begins to change, it affects more than just our memory – it can also change our moods and our ways of thinking and interpreting events. When someone who is usually easygoing starts to become uncharacteristically chronically irritated, something is sure to be happening in the brain. Alternatively, someone who has been cheerful throughout life seems to become increasingly depressed (especially with no obvious external source, such as grieving over recent losses), the brain is not acting “normally” in comparison with what has been historically natural for that person. It may not turn out to be dementia, but any major mood changes that seem to be inexplicable is cause for examining cerebral changes.

Perhaps it could be something as simple and easily correctable as a nutrient deficiency. But how long has the deficiency been going on and is there sufficient time and resources to compensate for that deficiency? Or perhaps it could be plaque or tumorous cells that don’t belong in the brain and could require surgery. Whatever the underlying cause may be, mood changes are easily detectible and should be taken seriously as symptoms of a possibly bigger problem.