Depression can cause withdrawal.
Physical illness can make socializing difficult.
Grief can change someone’s interests.
Hearing problems can make conversations exhausting.
But dementia can also cause people to withdraw because activities that once felt easy have become increasingly difficult.
Someone may avoid social situations because they are embarrassed about forgetting names or losing track of conversations.
They may stop participating in a hobby because they can no longer remember how to do it.
That is why withdrawal is worth considering alongside other changes rather than viewing it in isolation.
## 9. Noticeable Mood or Personality Changes
Personality doesn’t necessarily remain identical throughout life.
People can become more patient, less patient, more private, or more outgoing as circumstances change.
But a marked and unexplained change in personality or mood can sometimes accompany cognitive problems.
Someone who was previously calm may become unusually anxious or suspicious.
A person who was socially confident may become fearful.
Someone may become increasingly irritable, confused, withdrawn, or emotionally reactive.
The NHS lists mood and personality changes among possible dementia symptoms.
