Look at 10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer
In
2020 an estimated 5.8 million Americans were living with Alzheimer’s
disease. By 2060 this number is expected to triple to 14 million.
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
symptoms of the disease develop around the age of 60, the number of
people with Alzheimer’s doubles every five years thereafter. By age 85
almost a third of Americans have symptoms consistent with Alzheimer’s
disease including my grandma who recently passed.
As you’re
probably aware from the amount of attention it receives in the media,
Alzheimer’s Disease cases are on the rise in the U.S. Mostly as a result
of the aging Baby Boomer population. And it frequently isn’t detected
until patients are in advanced stages of the disease, because their
cognitive issues are often chalked up to aging, and because we don’t
have good tools to detect the disease before people start to change
their behavior. That means that lots of patients don’t know they’re sick
until their brains have already been badly damaged.
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1. Memory Loss
Forgetting recently learned information can be an early sign of Alzheimer’s Disease. So can forgetting important dates or events, and asking the same question over and over again. However, it is important to note that forgetfulness does not automatically mean Alzheimer’s. Memory problems can be a normal part of aging. Forgetfulness can also be caused by medical conditions, emotional problems, mild cognitive impairment (like amnesia), or other forms of dementia. If you forget something for a short time and then remember it later, that may not indicate Alzheimer’s. People developing Alzheimer’s increasingly need to rely on memory aids or family to handle things they used to do on their own, like paying bills.
2. Difficulty Concentrating
Concentration difficulties can also be caused by a variety of things including: medical disorders, psychological issues, sleep disorders, alcohol, or drugs. However, a person with Alzheimer’s may struggle with an ability to follow a plan, like a recipe or instructions. They may find more difficulty working with numbers, like keeping track of bills. Things they used to do with ease may take longer to do. This goes beyond minor errors or occasional mistakes, and can sometimes lead to unpaid bills or disrupted finances.
3. Difficulty Completing Familiar Tasks
Closely related to the difficulty concentrating, people with Alzheimer’s often find it challenging to do daily tasks. They may forget how to drive to a familiar location like work or even home. They may struggle to organize a grocery list, or forget how to turn on the television. While everyone can have these occasional “senior moments” this difficulty goes beyond a blip, and affects daily life.
4. Confusion with Time or Place
Everyone has the occasional moment of confusion about what day of the week it is, especially since COVID-19 has made time seem almost non-existent. Still, we usually remember it later. A person with Alzheimer’s, however, might lose track of dates, seasons, and the complete passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something that is not immediately happening–so talking about that wedding three months away is not going to make any sense. Sometimes they will even forget where they are and how they got there.
5. Vision Issues
Vision issues can, again, simply be another sign of aging. The development of cataracts also affects people’s vision. Still, vision problems can also be a sign of Alzheimer’s. They may find reading difficult. They may struggle understanding images, or determining color or contrast. They may have trouble judging distance. All of these issues affect their ability to drive, which means early diagnosis of the cause of the vision problem is essential.
6. Problems with Words
If someone is having trouble naming a familiar object–like calling a fork a food stabber thingy–that could be a sign of Alzheimer’s. This goes beyond a simple struggle to find the right word (which can happen to us all). They may have trouble following or joining in a conversation. They may stop mid-conversation unable to continue. They may repeat themselves over and over again within a conversation, in a never-ending loop. As a caregiver, this can be difficult, but it is also an important sign to recognize. If this happens, it is time to talk with a doctor.
7. Misplacing Items Without Being Able to Retrace Steps to Find Them
How
many times have you put down an object, like a book or a phone, only to
forget where you have placed them? Most people will be able to retrace
their steps and find the object eventually. A person exhibiting
Alzheimer’s systems may put things in unusual places. They will lose the
ability to replace their steps to recover the missing objects. As the
disease progresses, this sometimes leads to anger, frustration, and
accusations that someone stole the missing item.
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8. Decreased or Poor Judgment
The
ability to make decisions can definitely be affected by the onset of
Alzheimer’s. Individuals with Alzheimer’s may use poor judgment when
making money decisions, leaving them susceptible to scammers. If still
driving, they could forget to fill the gas tank, leaving them stranded
and confused. Often their grooming habits become an issue as well,
because of poor judgment.
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9. Withdrawal
Because
of the developing issues with words, even a person who is known to be
social may become withdrawn, avoiding social or work activities because
they struggle to follow or hold a conversation. They may find lose
interest in hobbies or social activities that have always interested
them. This is different from simply wanting a little time alone. This
symptom might appear as a complete shift of habits and ways of
interacting with others.
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10. Changes in Mood and Personality
Perhaps
one of the most notable symptoms, and most painful to witness, occurs
when a person with Alzheimer’s mood and personality seems to shift. They
can become confused, depressed, fearful, suspicious, or anxious. They
can strike out in anger at unexpected moments. While everyone
experiences these moments at times of stress or disruption, it usually
doesn’t completely change our personality. These changes in someone
developing Alzheimer’s can be noticeable and extreme.
Each of
these symptoms, individually, can be caused by many different things. If
you notice these symptoms developing in yourself or someone you love,
it’s important to reach out to a doctor. Get checked. Perhaps they will
find another underlying cause. Or, if you learn early enough, they can
recommend ways to slow or even stop this degenerative disease.