There are many early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. The symptoms of this disease worsen over time. If the symptoms have been developing gradually over time, it is possible that it could be the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
Some signs of someone with beginning stages of Alzheimer’s disease:
1. They have trouble remembering information
In the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, the first and foremost symptom is forgetting recently learned information. Forgetting events or important dates, needing to rely often on memory aids, or asking for the same information over and over are also some of the common signs. If questions become repetitive or frequent reminders are needed, they should see a doctor.
2. They cannot determine time or place
Losing track of dates, seasons and the passage of time happens easily to Alzheimer’s patients. It can be confusing when something doesn’t happen immediately and planning the future is hard for them to understand. Often one will forget how they got where they are or even where they are.
3. They often misplace belongings and can’t retrace their steps
A person with Alzheimer’s disease may begin putting things in unusual places. Over time they misplace things and become unable to retrace their steps to find them again. It can get to the point of confusing them with whether or not someone is stealing their personal belongings.
4. They have a change in personality or mood
People with Alzheimer’s can have extreme emotional swings with their personality or mood. They can quickly become confused, anxious, suspicious, depressed, or fearful. If they are out of their comfort zone, they can become easily upset. Mood shifts are a hard sign to link decisively to the disease because a medical condition or age can influence change in someone’s personality, behavior, or mood.
5. They have poor judgement
People with Alzheimer’s may experience changes in decision-making or impaired judgement. They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean. Personal hygiene is not longer of importance. They often handle their money poorly or give it away easily. Inappropriate choices or decisions can be worrisome when their safety, health, or finances becomes in jeopardy.
6. They have difficulty with familiar tasks
People with Alzheimer’s often find it hard to concentrate and complete a task. Sometimes, people may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a simple task at work or remembering how to play a favorite game.
7. They struggle solving problems
Some people 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 or a checkbook. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before.
8. They have a hard time communicating
People with Alzheimer’s may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may have difficulty finding the correct vocabulary words. Sometimes they will stall during a conversation, fixating on finding a particular word.
If you or a loved one are experiencing these symptoms see a doctor as soon as possible. Sometimes other medical conditions can affect memory and judgement. An evaluation and diagnosis are important so proper treatment can be provided. If the diagnosis is early on-set Alzheimer’s, there are several benefits of early detection.