Dementia in itself encompasses several conditions and can be described as a group of these conditions. In effect, the term dementia is used to describe progressive memory loss that can alter the daily life of affected individuals. Not only memory loss, difficulty performing simple tasks and a general disorientation are also included in the description of this condition. At a higher stage, people are known to lose their speech too. While most commonly the elderly are prone to developing this condition, in a few rare cases, younger individuals have developed it too. There are several types of dementia, and while the individual symptoms may vary, all of them usually have a common start. These signs have been explained here. Studies have shown that women are more prone to developing dementia and its related conditions than men. However, one may notice the onset of the signs and symptoms in men too, which are not very different from those in women. The signs and symptoms of dementia are usually overlooked by people in the initial stages. It is only when these symptoms get severe that people tend to take the condition a little more seriously. As mentioned earlier, dementia usually occurs in the elderly and may be considered as one of the many effects of aging. Before this condition worsens, it is important to be aware of its early signs, because this condition cannot be completely treated, but its increase in intensity over time can be delayed to a certain extent. One of the first signs of dementia is short-term memory loss. The inability to remember what one was doing a few hours ago, what one ate for lunch, or where one was is a common symptom at the onset of this condition. Another symptom is that those suffering from this condition often find themselves disoriented in relation to the place they are in or the time. They may suddenly begin to wonder how they landed up at a particular place, though they have been there all the while. Such individuals are also often confused because of their short-term memory loss and disorientation. This is one of the symptoms of senile dementia. They fail to understand what their course of action should be, and often end up doing things without meaning to do so, or understanding what they are actually doing. Because they slowly lose their memory, those exhibiting the signs of dementia may engage in repetitive behavior. For instance, they may forget that they have taken a medicine and take it again, or they may forget that they have eaten and eat again. Such signs should be taken seriously as repeating certain behaviors can harm them terribly. In the early stages of dementia in the elderly it is common for those affected to misplace their belongings. They may lock their cupboards and misplace the keys, or remove their ring while bathing and forget where they kept it. Another sign is their sudden mood swings. Because of the confusion and memory loss, they are likely to become suspicious of others around them, or simply withdraw socially and may not display much emotion. These conditions may alter their personality greatly. Lack of judgment may be one of the early signs of dementia. For instance, a good cook, when affected by dementia may add little or no salt to the food, or may lose judgment of how much to add, or how much to cook the food. In situations like driving too, this judgment may be affected. Those suffering from this condition may slowly forget certain words as part of speech, and may substitute them with the words they can remember. These words and the sentences formed using them may or may not make sense. Finally, the symptoms of dementia may include a complete loss of drive and initiative to perform any activities they previously enjoyed. Over time, they are likely to lose initiative to perform even basic tasks. For instance, they may have to be prompted to eat food and the like. As you can see, all the early signs of dementia can be overlooked easily. Also, these signs are not just common in the elderly. As mentioned earlier, though common in seniors, youngsters too can develop it. If these symptoms are noticed more often than not, it is ideal to visit a doctor or a psychiatrist to discover and treat the problem. Because dementia is caused due to a rapid degeneration of brains cells (either due to aging or a lack of oxygen to the brain, or for any other reason), it is important that it be treated correctly at the earliest. The doctor may administer a test to understand the cause of the condition and treat it. The treatment for this condition basically depends on its cause. There are also some things the affected individual can do to keep this condition at bay, particularly if it strikes at a younger age. If the aforementioned signs are spotted, a visit to a doctor is a must. However, other things can be done to keep it under control. Engaging in activities that keep the brain active and including some brain power foods in the diet, will help prevent the condition from worsening. Again, only this will not help, and it is important that the affected individual receives the appropriate treatment and medication for the condition at the earliest. Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only and does not, in any way, intend to replace the advice of a medical expert.