including depression, anxiety, hearing problems, or major life changes, so it should not automatically be attributed to dementia.

10. Changes in Mood or Personality

Family members sometimes notice personality or behavioral changes before other symptoms become obvious.

A person may become more anxious, suspicious, confused, fearful, withdrawn, irritable, or unusually upset when outside their normal routine.

Again, personality changes can have many possible explanations.

What matters is whether there is a significant, persistent change from the person’s usual behavior.

Normal Aging or Something More?

Some changes in memory can occur