Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer's and Dementia

 

Dementia is a general term describing a decline in cognitive abilities that affect a person's ability to think, remember and perform everyday tasks.

Alzheimer's is a specific type of dementia characterized by progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. It is a disease in the brain that causes cognitive decline, eventually leading to dementia. It is characterized by the build-up of abnormal proteins (amyloid plaques and tau tangles) in the brain.

Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia.

Early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's and Dementia include:

Memory loss that disrupts daily life

One of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s disease, especially in the early stage, is forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events, asking the same questions over and over, and increasingly needing to rely on memory aids (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own.

Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.

Challenges in planning or solving problems

Some people living with changes in their memory due to Alzheimer's or other dementia may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may also have difficulty in concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before.

Difficulty completing familiar tasks

Often, they find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes they may have trouble driving to a familiar location, organizing a grocery list or remembering the rules of a favorite game.

Confusion with time or place

They can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there.

Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships

They could experience vision changes. This may lead to difficulty with balance or trouble reading. They may also have problems judging distance and determining color or contrast, causing issues with driving. 

Problems in speaking or writing

They may have trouble following or joining a conversation, may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves.

As a result of experiencing changes in the ability to hold or follow a conversation, they may withdraw from hobbies, social activities or other engagements. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite team or activity.

Also, they may struggle with vocabulary, have trouble naming a familiar object or use the wrong name (e.g., calling a "watch" a "hand-clock").

Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps

They may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. He or she may accuse others of stealing, especially as the disease progresses.

Decreased or poor judgment

May experience changes in judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money or pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean.

Changes in mood and personality

May experience mood and personality changes. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, with friends or when out of their comfort zone.

Overall, if you notice one or more signs in yourself or another person, get checked. Early detection matters.