Symptoms of dementia are generally difficult to ignore, but they can be preceded by physical changes that are not so obvious.
According to Detox medical director, Dr. Michael S. Valdez, physical signs of decline in the brain may appear in the way we walk and move – sometimes before an official diagnosis.
Although symptoms will vary between individuals and different types of dementia, physical changes highlight the brain anomalies.
“As with any form of dementia, the first symptoms may vary,” said Dr. Valdez to GB News.
Silent hands of the hands could be associated with dementia
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“The most common and alarming warning signs are slower than usual movements, muscles stiffness or soft and silent tremors of the hands.”
According to the expert, subtle changes in the way a person works, the reduction in movement and the balance problems are all key indicators.
The expert told GB News: “Sometimes the physical symptoms appear before observable cognitive changes.
“Examples could be subtle changes in the process, a decrease in movements or balance problems.”
Although the signs are subtle at first, they will probably become more difficult to ignore over time, noted Dr. Valdez.
“These changes come from the areas of the brain whose functional capacities are due to neurodegenerative processes in dementia, such as the motor cortex or central gray nuclei,” he explained.
“For example, with dementia of Lewy’s body, most people would even develop physical symptoms such as rigidity and mixing process from the start, even in the absence of advanced cognitive decline.”
As dementia progresses, physical capacities decrease, often overlap with age -related changes.
The physical signs of dementia may appear in the absence of decline in the brain
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But Dr. Valdez has highlighted a key factor which can distinguish the physical symptoms linked to the dementia of typical age changes.
“Unlike age -related changes, there are notable disturbances in daily activities,” said Dr. Valdez.
“However, changes in such remarkable symptoms with a lasting progressive structure tend to occur.
“For example, the problems in a person’s ability to tackle the daily life activities or the tasks they have previously found quite easy.”