Signs and symptoms of dementia result when once-healthy neurons, or nerve cells, in the brain stop working, lose connections with other brain cells, and die. While everyone loses some neurons as they age, people with dementia experience far greater loss.

The symptoms of dementia can vary and may include:

Experiencing memory loss, poor judgment, and confusion

Difficulty speaking, understanding and expressing thoughts, or reading and writing

Wandering and getting lost in a familiar neighborhood

Trouble handling money responsibly and paying bills

Repeating questions

Using unusual words to refer to familiar objects

Taking longer to complete normal daily tasks

Losing interest in normal daily activities or events

Hallucinating or experiencing delusions or paranoia

Acting impulsively

Not caring about other people’s feelings

Losing balance and problems with movement

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities can also develop dementia as they age, and recognizing their symptoms can be particularly difficult. It’s important to consider a person’s current abilities and to monitor for changes over time that could signal dementia.