{"id":4457,"date":"2022-08-08T08:43:25","date_gmt":"2022-08-08T13:43:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-overland-park\/?p=4457"},"modified":"2026-05-27T16:34:56","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T21:34:56","slug":"warning-signs-dementia-personality-changes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pegasusseniorliving.com\/pegasus-landing-of-overland-park\/blog\/2022\/08\/08\/warning-signs-dementia-personality-changes\/","title":{"rendered":"The Warning Signs of Dementia: Personality Changes"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Pegasus Senior Living<\/a> Senior VP of Health and Wellness Dr. Sandra Petersen<\/a> created the Connections program for memory care. She holds qualifying certificates in family practice, psychiatric-mental health, and geriatric medicine. As a founding member of the Assisted Living Federation of America\u2019s Nurse Action Committee, she is a nationally recognized expert in senior living care.<\/em><\/p>

Dr. Petersen regularly contributes to SeniorsMatter<\/a> and provides Alzheimer\u2019s and dementia advice. We are proud to offer a memory care program led by an accomplished senior care specialist. Let\u2019s take a deeper look at a subject she recently discussed.<\/p>

Are personality changes a normal part of aging?<\/h2>

Being forgetful every once in a while and varying likes or dislikes can be normal behavior as people age. Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia affecting personality and behavior are not <\/strong>normal parts of aging.<\/p>

\"Pegasus
Robert Kneschke – stock.adobe.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>

You may have cause for concern if your parent or spouse seems more withdrawn or unresponsive to the activities and events that used to bring them joy. You may think people just lose interest in things as they age, but it could be an early sign of dementia.<\/p>

Over six million people<\/a> in the United States have Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia. The symptoms of dementia like memory loss and behavior changes will eventually interrupt daily life. Family members are usually the first to step in as their caretakers.<\/p>

It\u2019s important to seek help from your family healthcare provider as soon as you notice what may be dementia. Detecting dementia early on can lead to better outcomes of planning for long-term care and starting therapies that can slow progression.<\/p>

Are personality changes used to make a diagnosis of dementia?<\/h2>

At the first sign of changes in your loved one, you should keep a journal<\/a> of the patterns you notice. Showing this journal to your family doctor can help inform them if they are experiencing a type of dementia.<\/p>

Simple at-home dementia tests<\/a> and cognitive function tests do not always give a comprehensive view of the changes happening in your loved one. Dr. Petersen prefers interacting with patients and their family members.<\/p>

\u201cI like to interview individuals and the people who interact with them,\u201d says Dr. Petersen<\/a>, \u201cto see how they\u2019ve changed and what kinds of things are going on in the environment.\u201d<\/p>

Longer detailed interviews and evidence of personality changes can explain why cognitive decline occurs. Dr. Petersen uses the example of diagnosing people with frontotemporal dementia. Their behavior may be more erratic than those with vascular dementia or Lewy body dementia.<\/p>

The brain’s frontal lobe is the hub for thinking, responding, and controlling movement. If your loved one makes choices consistently with poor judgment or rash behavior, it could indicate this type of dementia.<\/p>

What are other warning signs of dementia?<\/h2>

As brain cells start losing connection with each other at a faster rate, symptoms of dementia become apparent. According to the National Institute on Aging<\/a>, people with dementia exhibit:<\/p>