Early sign of dementia is loss of Executive Function

SDianeL

From Speaking Dementia: “One of the earliest signs of dementia is the loss of executive function , not memory.

Executive function is the brain’s ability to:
• plan
• organise
• make decisions
• manage risk
• cope with complexity

When this starts to fail, people may still sound intelligent and hold conversations. Even their memory may test “okay.”

But everyday life begins to unravel and families start to notice unpaid bills or financial mistakes. Their loved one starts to make unsafe decisions and has difficulty following simple steps. Even making a cup of tea is not so simple now. They are now becoming overwhelmed with simple tasks. They make poor judgements that are totally out of character for them.

What often happens next is adaptation.
Someone quietly takes over the finances.
Someone starts driving them everywhere.
Someone makes decisions “to help.”

The family adjusts without realising they are compensating for neurological decline. This is why dementia is often missed early.

That gap between what someone sounds like and what they can safely manage is where confusion, conflict, and guilt grow.

Dementia doesn’t just affect memory. It affects the brain’s ability to manage life itself.”

Barbie300

This is exactly what I started dealing with at first. My DH would tell me he paid a bill or fixed a computer problem, etc. Then when I checked it had not been done. I gradually took over all finances, bill paying, taxes, etc. Sometimes he will say he’s glad he doesn’t have to deal with any of that anymore. It’s hard though when I have to do most everything. He’s not to the stage of needing constant care, but I don’t have a lot of free time with all the household chores, cooking, meal planning ,cleaning and household maintenance.

Goodlife2025

Diane this is our story for sure

DW age 49, with very early on set and coming to the end of stage 5. In recent months I have gone back reflecting on when I maybe first saw or noticed anything. Of course, who thinks dementia at this early age but now I believe in 2014 (age 38) there were two signs related to executive function. First, she struggled with and ultimately could not learn to play cribbage nor was she able to learn a new spreadsheet software at work.

Cribbage was attributed to a lack of interest keeping with other familiar family card and board games. It was sad for me but I thought little of it. But also that same year she was unable to learn a new software spreadsheet program at work. It led to a series of employment changes where I now understand she was managing that, … everyday life begins to unravel and families start to notice ...

If we weren't living the horror that is this journey I could actually find the manifestations of this disease a scientific wonder. Thank you for posting….

BikingOldMan

It has become painful watching my DW as she is preparing for her day downstairs. Her routine is to make a cup of hot liquid to sip on. She struggles standing in front of the counter trying to figure out what she needs. I have already started a kettle of hot water on the stove, it's ready. It can easily be 1/2 hour before she is out of the kitchen so that I can put her breakfast together for her. I didn't have a name for it, but her executive function has been on a steady decline for at least 8 years now. No wonder I kept getting upset with her after arriving home from a work trip and she had done little to nothing around the house and didn't seem to care. So much of our past issues comes to light with understanding this executive function warning sign.

Cathy coconis

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/262411#Comment_262411

I can relate. Went through all of the same things, and I am feeling like I have no time either

H1235

Wow! This is definitely what I saw with mom. My mil had Alzheimer’s and showed some memory issues right from the start. When I noticed things were off with my mom I was so confused, because memory wasn’t the problem. I had no idea how to even bring it up with her doctor. She is an adult ( and my parent). Who am I to judge her decision? She was making bad decisions, couldn’t plan or prioritize things, but her memory was fine. It took me too long to realize dementia is about way more than memory issues. She was diagnosed with vascular dementia 3 years ago and still doesn’t have the memory issues my mil did in the very beginning. Testing showed her worst deficiency in executive functioning.

jgreen

Thank you @SDianeL

Same for us in our situation.

byzantium1963

My father in law, was diagnosed a year ago. Mother in law insisted to us to let him look at our car that wouldn’t start. He has always been brilliant with cars. He said to plug car into house to charge it every day, check battery voltage daily and even short drives to the store will drain the battery. I told mother in law what he said and she said ok glad he figured it out.
It’s hard

lovinlife70

I am new to this forum. How do I post my stuff

H1235

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/262464#Comment_262464

welcome. On my tablet there is a plus sign in the bottom right of the page. That will allow you to give your post a title and then post whatever question, concern or rant you need to.

Kweisser

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/262411#Comment_262411

Hi Barbie300- I empathize! It is exhausting to have to handle everything. DH still wants to be helpful, but he doesn’t recall where any of the dishes go when he empties the dishwasher, and he puts the composting in the recycling bin. Sigh. Small problems I know but it is hard to go from having a partner, to having a spouse who can no longer care for themselves or help around the house. Sometimes I get short, because his intent to help is still there, but his actions often create more work for me than if I had just done it myself. I try to bite my tongue and remember this wasn’t his choice. Hang in there!

Barbie300

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/262469#Comment_262469

That is exactly the case. He wants to help but then creates more work for me than if I just did it myself. Sometimes he will volunteer to go pick up something at a store. I just don’t trust him doing that. He will maybe get lost, pick up the wrong thing, have trouble finding his credit card etc. I don’t dare let him go to a store alone. He does walk the dog though without a problem for now, except his hands have lost so much strength that he has problems attaching the leash. PT doesn’t seem to help.

RetiredTeacher

Executive function defecits were the first thing I noticed. Over time they have declined further abd his physical abilities as well.

RetiredTeacher

I wonder how many others are dealing with loss of physical abilities: hand strength, coordination, balance, leg weakness and proprioception. My husband sits much of the day and occasionally asks to help. I try to find one easy task per day for him to help with but even getting out silverware and napkins for dinner cam be challenging. If he remembers the napkins, he forgets the silverware. He can't figure if we need a knife and fork or a spoon, or all of them. Vacuuming one room is exhausting fir him and he had to sit and rest 4x to finish the job. It's so hard to do it all but having him help takes more time to explain, monitor and assist than just doing it myself. This disease robs our LO's and ourselves of so much.

jfkoc

Very helpful… thanks

rockymtngrrl

My LO and I talk about when the first signs showed up. It seems to me that it was about 20 years ago, when we moved to our new town. He used to program the remote for the tv or radio. Now he has trouble with the simple one I ordered from Comcast. He's also starting to have trouble with his phone.

I can't get him the really simple 5 button remote they advertise on some sites. He's not that far gone yet, and it would be one more thing he would have to try to learn how to use and would not be able to. He wants to use the more complicated remote controls, like forward and rewind; but he can't always figure out which one it is. I am not allowed to help him with it.

We're headed for a bad year, I can see it happening in front of me. I don't know how I'll manage to keep the tv's and remotes intact. He's already broken a tv by throwing the remote at it. Grrr. I am just thankful it's something I can afford to replace right now.

White Crane

Thank you for posting this. It explains a lot about my husband's behavior as far back as thirteen years ago. I had no idea then that he had Alzehimer's but I did notice changes in his behavior and ability to cope with things…also his judgment.