Dementia affects millions of people every year. There are an estimated 50 million people living with dementia around the world. The odds of you or someone you know dealing with dementia is quite high, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to get any better.

According to Alzheimer’s Disease International, the number of dementia patients will double every two decades. That means by 2050 there will be 131.5 million people with dementia across the globe.

But dementia does not have to be a death sentence or unfightable. Because there are early warning signs, you can be proactive in fighting the onset of the disease. Sometimes dementia hits quick and hard.

Click to the next slide to learn the early warning signs that sneak up on you so you’re prepared.