Dementia doesn’t always begin with memory loss: early warning signs to watch for

Key Points:

• The family of Miki Berkovich revealed he is living with dementia with Lewy bodies, highlighting challenges in early diagnosis due to the gap between symptom onset and evaluation, which is critical as early treatment can slow disease progression.
• Cognitive decline ranges from normal aging to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia, with dementia marked by loss of functional independence; Alzheimer’s disease is one cause among several, including Lewy body dementia and vascular dementia.
• Early symptoms of dementia can be atypical, such as visual disturbances, language difficulties, or behavioral changes, especially in younger patients, making early diagnosis challenging but increasingly important due to emerging treatments.
• Recent advances include biomarker tests (imaging, cerebrospinal fluid, blood tests) to detect Alzheimer’s disease and new drugs like lecanemab and donanemab that slow disease progression in early stages, though these treatments are not cures and have risks.
• Access to early diagnosis and treatment remains limited due to shortages of specialists, high costs, and lack of public health coverage, placing a heavy burden on patients and families and underscoring the need for expanded healthcare resources and support services.