As people age, they often experience memory decline and forgetfulness, which is a normal part of cognitive function reduction, affecting memory, attention, decision-making speed, and learning ability. Dr. Yelena Kuzmicheva, a psychologist, points out that the main difference between aging and dementia is a general disturbance of cognitive functions.
She states, "A person with dementia becomes completely unable to perform daily activities, cannot navigate their environment, loses the ability to recognize loved ones, understand, and use language, and relies entirely on those around them." It is well-known that dementia is irreversible. However, if diagnosed in a timely manner, its progression can be slowed, allowing the individual to maintain a relatively normal life for an extended period.
Due to the similarities between dementia and typical age-related changes, many relatives mistakenly attribute the signs to aging, and the individual often does not feel anything unusual. As a result, they only consult a doctor when symptoms become advanced.
According to her, there is a classic set of signs: "Memory deterioration, loss of previous interests, difficulty planning and carrying out routine activities, excessive naïveté, or conversely, suspicion of everything. An elderly patient may have trouble distinguishing colors, loses track of time and place, and constantly forgets where they placed items they are searching for. Generally, such symptoms are not hard to notice."
The doctor notes that there are behavioral signs known only to psychiatrists. For instance, the patient may struggle to answer the doctor’s questions independently, often looking towards a relative accompanying them for confirmation or guidance in providing the correct response. Alternatively, their answer to a direct question may be unrelated to the topic, steering the conversation off course and making it difficult for the doctor to remember the initial question posed to the patient.
The "collecting behavior" is a clear indicator of the onset of dementia. For example, the patient may start gathering not only their belongings but also items that belong to others when preparing to leave a place.
