Signs of dementia that appear 15 years before diagnosis have been named

Dementia is considered an age-related disease, but its signs can appear long before diagnosis, sometimes 15 years later, German scientists state.

Sleep disturbance. Some sleep peacefully at night, while others actively move their limbs. A study conducted in Canada showed that people who hit and push each other during the REM sleep phase are 80% more likely to develop neurodegenerative disorders, including dementia and Alzheimer's disease, as they age.

"Sleep behavior disorder is a warning sign of brain diseases that may not become evident until 15 years later," the researchers said.

In turn, data from scientists at Boston University indicate that people who sleep poorly at night are at higher risk of senile dementia.

Deterioration of vision. Maintaining good vision into old age also helps people maintain cognitive function. In turn, visuospatial difficulties that occur long before diagnosis can be a precursor to dementia. These include difficulties with depth perception, distance perception, and recognizing family members.

"Even if a disorder similar to Alzheimer's disease has already begun, it can be difficult to recognize it. This is not least due to the fact that patients are often good at hiding symptoms. Often, dementia is indicated by personality changes - a typical symptom is the emergence of severe anxiety in a person," experts shared.