Does this sound like early onset dementia?

[messyhen]

My mum is 76 this year (I think!) and lately I've noticed small things that aren't quite right. Firstly, dementia runs very heavily on my mum's side of the family. Her own mum (my gran had it at the same age, if not younger) - then my two aunties had it, and I believe my mum's sister is going through it too.

When I talk to her on the phone, she seems very disinterested in me. A bit 'off' somehow. Seems to be busy doing a puzzle or something else. It was my dd's birthday a couple of weeks ago and we were travelling somewhere and she asked if we were having lunch in my hometown, knowing that we had to be at this place early. She also forgets things, such as texting me. She also forgot that she was looking after a dog longer than she was supposed to me (these things could be old age though - it's hard to tell).

Everything else seems fine as far as I can tell.
Any one have any experiences of the early early signs/symptoms so I can keep an eye on things.

TIA x

Could so easily be. I know with my husband's dad he managed to hide it for ages as he obviously could see it coming and put strategies in place to try and not forget things.

It's so sad but if you can get her to the dr early they may be able to help for a while

It does sound likely. I would get her seen and evaluated. Sorry for what you're going through. It runs in my family too.

Thank you for your reply. I'm so very worried, but I would rather be prepared for what's to come later down the line if she has it. My mum takes coconut oil very morning (has done for the past 5 years - so I think it's always been at the back of her mind).

Such a cruel disease...

every*

Sounds like it may well be. It might not progress very fast, but if you’re concerned I’d encourage her to go to the gp and get referred for memory clinic.

recently been through this with the mother in law. It started how you described, but has gradually got worse over the last few years. It took ages to persuade her to go and get it investigated. I think she was scared after seeing a family member become very aggressive with advanced dementia. But once she finally went and got the diagnosis she actually felt better.

Her memory actually seems slightly better since she was diagnosed. I think she may have been trying so hard to hide it from everyone (not very successfully) that it actually caused her a lot of stress and took a lot of her attention. Now she’s more relaxed and things for now are a bit better.