---
title: Why memory loss may not be the most worrisome symptom of dementia
description: A lot of attention is focused on the consequences of memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease for financial decision-making. But dementia is bigger than Alzheimer’s, and Alzheimer’s is not just about memory loss.
image: https://blog.whealthcareplan.com/hubfs/test%20booth9.png
---

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# Why memory loss may not be the most worrisome symptom of dementia

Posted by [Chris Heye, PhD](https://blog.whealthcareplan.com/author/chris-heye-phd) on Jun 21, 2018 8:44:36 AM

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A lot of attention is now focused on the harmful consequences of memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease for financial decision-making. And for good reason. But it is important to understand that dementia is bigger than Alzheimer’s, and Alzheimer’s is not just about memory loss.

***Alzheimer’s is just one kind of dementia.*** Unfortunately, dementia comes in many forms. There’s vascular dementia, Lewey Body disease, frontal lobe dementia, etc. In fact, there are over 100 types of dementia, and [Alzheimer’s accounts for (only) between 60-80% of all dementia cases](http://www.insidedementia.com/about-dementia/).

***Memory loss is but one symptom of Alzheimer’s*.** There are numerous consequences of Alzheimer’s, including having difficulty planning or problem-solving, confusing time and place, demonstrating poor judgement, and behaving impulsively. [Here is the list of warning signs](https://www.alz.org/10-signs-symptoms-alzheimers-dementia.asp) published by the Alzheimer’s Association. Memory loss is but one of ten symptoms.

***Other dementia symptoms may be more detrimental than memory loss for financial-decision-making.*** In [a study that I helped design and manage](https://www.alzheimersanddementia.com/article/S1552-5260(17)33622-1/fulltext) at the Massachusetts General Hospital, we found that memory loss is not the only, and perhaps not even the most consequential, indicator of diminished financial decision-making capacity. Rather, deficits in executive function-related capacity, including the (in)ability to focus attention, plans and organize, “connect the dots” and control impulses, appear to be the greatest threat to good financial decision-making.

The frequency of dementia doubles every 5 years starting at age 60. And by the time we reach our mid-80s, we have roughly a 50% chance of having some form of dementia (which may or may not be Alzheimer’s). So, starting when we are in our 50s – 60s at the very latest – steps should be taken to prepare for what will be for most of us the inevitable onset of dementia.

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