You’re in your 40s and suddenly you’re forgetting things, struggling to finish everyday tasks or noticing changes in your personality. Is it stress and normal aging, or could it be something more?
September is World Alzheimer’s Month, and Memorial Hermann Mischer Neuroscience Associates neurologist Dr. Jessica Shultz is raising awareness about a form of dementia many people don't realize can happen much earlier in life: early-onset dementia.
Dr. Shultz says warning signs can appear as early as a person’s mid-40s, making it important to recognize the difference between normal aging and concerning cognitive changes.
One key distinction: normal aging often means having more difficulty multitasking, while dementia can interfere with everyday functioning.
Dr. Shultz says people shouldn't wait until memory problems become severe to see a neurologist. Even subtle changes can be an early indication of dementia and getting evaluated sooner gives doctors more opportunities to help.
The good news? There are steps people can take now to protect their brain.
Dr. Shultz recommends regular exercise along with a Mediterranean-style diet or the MIND diet, which was specifically developed around brain health and memory.
And while dementia currently isn't reversible, early detection matters. Once brain damage has occurred, it cannot be undone, which is why Dr. Shultz emphasizes getting checked early.
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