The nurse is talking with a woman who is worried that her mother has Alzheimer's disease. The nurse knows that the first sign of dementia is

Choice A reason: Disorientation typically occurs in later stages of dementia, not as an initial symptom. Choice B reason: Early dementia is characterized by memory impairment that exceeds normal age-related forgetfulness, particularly difficulty learning new information and recalling recent events. Choice C reason: Loss of ability to perform self-care tasks occurs in more advanced stages of dementia. Choice D reason: Although dementia presentations can vary, this option does not describe a specific early sign.