When you envision a person with early dementia symptoms, you may immediately picture someone who’s experiencing memory problems. But speech changes and dementia may also be linked. It’s possible for people with dementia to talk less than usual, change their speech patterns, or even talk nonstop.

“My mother is very talkative one day, and then not a word the next day,” one myALZteam member said.

Another replied, “My husband tends to be more talkative in the evenings, but it’s mostly gibberish.”

A third member said, “My husband sleeps a lot, which is good! When he’s awake, he’s quite talkative to himself and others. He also makes random comments and noises. Fortunately, he is very cheerful and easy to get along with.”

Keep reading to learn about the link between excessive talking and dementia. You’ll also discover what types of responses are appropriate when your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia is talking a lot.

What Qualifies as Nonstop Talking?

Nonstop talking may look different depending on the person and their stage of cognitive decline. You might see your loved one changing their speech patterns in one of these ways:

• Repeating things and telling you the same story or even the same phrases over and over
• Making stories or sentences longer than needed
• Going off on tangents and having issues maintaining their train of thought
• Talking repeatedly about fears or stressors
• Speaking excessively without making sense

People with memory loss also may talk more than usual because they’re having trouble finding the right words to use. Their conversation may go round and round because they’re not able to verbalize what they’re trying to express.

Is Excessive Talking a Dementia Symptom?

Nonstop talking is not among the most common signs of dementia. But many people with dementia do experience communication issues. Anything related to speech would be considered a communication issue.

Talking excessively may be linked to certain types of dementia. For instance, people with frontotemporal dementia may repeat the same phrases over and over, even early in the disease course. Issues with language can be an early symptom of this condition.

Research specifically on nonstop talking and Alzheimer’s disease is limited, and much of the information we know about excessive talking and dementia is anecdotal. This means it comes from individual stories or observations rather than large scientific studies. More of such studies are needed to discover the connection between excessive talking and dementia.

Speak with your neurologist or other healthcare provider if your loved one is talking more than usual or their speech patterns change. They can perform testing to find the cause.

What Else Causes Nonstop Talking?

Dementia isn’t the only cause of excessive talking. People may talk more than usual due to other problems and diagnoses as well, such as:

• Neurological changes — Issues impacting your brain, such as a stroke or injury, may lead to excessive talking that doesn’t make sense.
• Psychological issues — People experiencing mental health diagnoses, such as bipolar disorder, may speak more than usual.
• Environmental triggers — Outside influences may make people talk more. For instance, drinking coffee may trigger talkativeness.

Talking more than usual is normal for everyone once in a while. This is especially true when people get excited. But if it continues and impacts quality of life or seems excessive, speak with a doctor.

Managing Nonstop Talking as a Caregiver

Being around someone who talks constantly — whether their speech makes sense or not — may be challenging for family members or other caregivers. But there are strategies that can help you manage your loved ones’ talkative moments while also being compassionate and understanding.

Take Time To Listen

Even if your loved one is making no sense while talking excessively, they may still be trying to tell you something. Listen as they work on sharing what they may need, and avoid interrupting. Make eye contact while communicating and talk to them as you would have in the past.

It’s also important to validate their emotions, even if those emotions make no sense to you. If the person is talking excessively about something that upsets them, tell them you understand how much it must be bothering them rather than telling them to get over it.

“Through trial and error and messing up several times, I discovered I just needed not to tell him no or disagree,” one myALZteam member said about their loved one. “Now I typically just agree, and it’s helped a lot.”

Redirect Your Loved One

If someone with dementia is talking in circles or doesn’t seem to be making a point, consider redirecting them. This is especially important if their excessive talking seems to be agitating or frustrating. Redirecting means gently shifting their attention to something else — ideally an activity that feels familiar, enjoyable, or calming.

Consider asking if they want to take a walk, have a meal, or listen to music. As their caregiver, you’re uniquely qualified to know which activities for people with dementia may be calming for your loved one. Some people find that music therapy helps relax people with dementia.

“I have an Alexa and play ‘oldies’ all day long for my husband,’” one myALZteam member said. “He loves it. Could not be without it!”

Be Patient

Sometimes, the person talking excessively will eventually get the right words to express themselves. Even if they take more words than needed, they might be trying to get a point across. Listen patiently, and hold their hand if that helps them relax. Just knowing that you’re nearby and interested in listening may help them work through any anxiety or stress that’s causing nonstop talking. Once they’re talking less, take some time for yourself.

“Today, my mom has been very talkative since 5:30 a.m. — it’s the afternoon now. We did not get much sleep, but I am learning to sleep when she goes to sleep,” a member shared. “The best part of this is at least she is in a good mood. … It’s important to take some time to relax, smile, and take a deep breath.”

Show Gratitude That They’re Sharing With You

Some people may completely lose the ability to talk once they enter the later stages of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. If your loved one is in this situation, you may be grateful when they suddenly start talking excessively.

“My husband is frustrating sometimes, but today was more talkative than usual. So I’m enjoying the casual conversation,” one member said.

“Enjoy the talking and remember his voice,” another member replied.

Speak With Your Doctor

Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about a loved one who’s talking nonstop. Your neurology care team can perform an exam and diagnostic testing to see whether your loved one has dementia, Alzheimer’s, or a condition that mimics it. If so, they can develop a treatment plan to help ease your loved one’s symptoms.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On myALZteam, the social network for people with Alzheimer’s and their loved ones, more than 86,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with Alzheimer’s.

Have you seen a loved one talking nonstop and wondered whether they had dementia? What did the doctor ultimately say? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.