Where are the car keys? Did I lock the front door? When is that doctor’s appointment scheduled? You’ve likely had all these questions flood your mind at different times during your hectic day, and chances are they may actually incite panic until you realize you left the keys on the counter, you did indeed lock the front door and the doctor’s appoint was rescheduled for next week. These occasional lapses in memory are a part of life and should not automatically cause concern for something more serious such as dementia or early onset Alzheimer’s disease. September is World Alzheimer’s month and we’d like to take this opportunity to raise awareness globally about the symptoms as well as the challenges and stigmas surrounding the disease. With greater knowledge, we can all better help those who do suffer from sometimes debilitating memory loss. The numbers are growing. Worldwide, 47.5 million people have dementia and there are 7.7 million new cases every year. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia and may contribute to 60–70% of cases. Here are five symptoms physicians look for in diagnosing dementia:

1. 1. Loss of memory
An early sign of dementia may be having trouble remembering things. It often begins subtly
with not remembering where you left something or forgetting what you had for breakfast.

2. 2. Lack of ability to communicate
Having trouble finding the right words or struggling to explain things that came easily before.

3. 3. Being repetitive
Repetition is common in dementia because of memory loss. Repeating daily tasks, such as
brushing your teeth, is common due to forgetfulness.

4. 4. Loss of ability to focus and pay attention
Following storylines may become difficult due to early dementia. That’s because many dementia
sufferers forget the meanings of words which makes it difficult to comprehend what is being
said.

5. 5. Lack of reasoning and judgment
This symptom can affect the loss of concern for personal appearance and becoming increasingly
unkempt early in the course of disease. Impulsive behavior is also common in social and
personal conduct including the lack of inhibition.