5 Obvious Signs of Dementia I Missed in My Own Mother

About 57 million people live with dementia worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), and the burden of this disease continues to grow, with an estimated 10 million new cases each year. 

What makes this epidemic even scarier is that researchers are still trying to understand exactly what causes it. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke explains that dementia is a complex syndrome influenced by many potential factors, ranging from genetics to lifestyle factors, injuries, infections, and medical conditions. Without a clear understanding of what’s going on, it remains challenging to treat, especially at advanced stages. 

The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, which accounts for about 60% to 70% of cases, including my mother’s. In a twist that’s hard to fathom, my mother’s Alzheimer’s disease was not diagnosed until she had reached the final stages. Part of this was due to her age; she was just 73 at the time. Only around one in 10 dementia patients experience this type of early onset, with symptoms appearing before the age of 65. I never suspected my mother was part of this group—or that the disease had taken root years before our family noticed anything was wrong.

After speaking with doctors and reading up on dementia, I now realize there were some early signs that my mother’s mind was in trouble. But most of the symptoms were things we chalked up to age or dismissed as goofy parts of her personality. Little annoyances we brushed off.

Looking back now, those moments were my mother’s earliest, most deceptive Alzheimer’s symptoms. 

1. Constantly misplacing her keys and cell phone

It was a running joke in our family, but in the context of dementia, this kind of chronic absent-mindedness was probably more than a bad habit. Misplacing things is one of the earliest signs of dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Of course, everyone loses their phone, keys, or other small items from time to time, but when the frequency is almost daily, it could be a sign of a bigger problem.

2. Asking for the same information repeatedly

If I were coming to visit my mother in a week, I’d have to field the same questions daily leading up to my trip. One of them would inevitably be, “Which train are you taking?” This unrelenting line of questioning was frustrating, of course, but it should have been alarming.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, chronic forgetfulness, asking for the same information over and over, and repeating the same conversations are warning signs. Slowed speech is another, according to a 2024 study published in Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition. Requiring the same information repeatedly can be attributed to normal aging, but when the information won’t stick on a daily basis, it could be more serious.

3. Avoiding social interactions

My mother has been outgoing her entire life and has numerous close friends. When she moved out of state with my father 15 years ago, she began avoiding social situations, though, especially if it meant meeting new people. As we later learned, this was an early sign of dementia. According to 2025 research published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, social isolation may be a risk factor for dementia—but it’s also thought to be a symptom of the disease itself, especially in its early stages. 

4. Never getting the lay of the land

When my mother moved from the place she’d lived her whole life to a new town, she never quite figured out how to get around—and she loved to be out and about. The Alzheimer’s Association says having trouble driving to a familiar location is another early symptom of dementia. If my mother’s disease had taken root around the time she relocated, it makes sense that she would have trouble retaining this new information.

5. Unexplained weight loss

My mother had always been a petite woman. But in the past handful of years, she seemed to keep shrinking. By the time she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, she weighed less than 100 pounds. According to 2025 research published in JAMA Network Open, unintended weight loss may be an early indicator of underlying cognitive decline. The research found that people with dementia had a faster decline in weight and waist circumference up to 11 years before their diagnosis.

Other research notes that this weight loss pattern is more extreme in women and links this warning sign with a rapid progression of the disease. This theory checks out with our lived experience: My mother cycled through the last three stages of Alzheimer’s in about two years.

Pay attention if things seem “off” with your loved one

If you suspect a loved one might be experiencing the early signs of dementia, experts recommend trying to persuade that person to see a doctor right away. While there’s no cure, medications and treatments are available to slow the progression of the disease and ease symptoms, especially when treatment is started early.

These include two FDA-approved antibody-based treatments, lecanemab and donanemab, that target the underlying biology of the disease. Research suggests these drugs can slow the progression of dementia by 27% to 36%, according to a 2025 review of clinical trials published in The Lancet. Medications are also available to treat cognitive, behavioral, and psychological symptoms associated with dementia—and they work best with early intervention. 

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