10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s
Memory loss that disrupts daily life may be
a symptom of Alzheimer’s or other dementia.
Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that causes a slow
decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills.
notice any of them, don’t ignore them. Schedule
an appointment with your doctor.
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 for
the same information over and over, and increasingly
needing to rely on memory aids (e.g.,
members for things they used to handle on their
own. What’s a typical age-related change?
Sometimes forgetting names or appointments,
but remembering them later.
2- Challenges in planning or 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. They may have difficulty concentrating
and take much longer to do things than they did
before. What’s a typical age-related change?
Making occasional errors when balancing a
checkbook.
at home, at work or at leisure - People with
tasks. Sometimes, people may have trouble driving
to a familiar location, managing a budget
at work or remembering the rules of a favorite
game. What’s a typical age-related change?
Occasionally needing help to use the settings on a
microwave or to record a television show.
4 - Confusion with time or place - People
with Alzheimer’s 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. What’s a typical
age-related change? Getting confused about the
5 - Trouble understanding visual images
and spatial relationships - or some people,
having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer’s.
They may have difficulty reading, judging distance
and determining color or contrast, which
may cause problems with driving. What’s a
typical age-related change?
related to cataracts.
6 - New problems with words in speaking
or writing - 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 struggle with vocabulary,
have problems finding the right word or call
things by the wrong name (e.g., calling a “watch”
What’s a typical age-related
change? Sometimes having trouble finding the
right word.
Misplacing things and losing the ability
to retrace steps - A person with Alzheimer’s
disease may put things in unusual places. They
may lose things and be unable to go back over
their steps to find them again. Sometimes, they
may accuse others of stealing. This may occur
more frequently over time. What’s a typical
age-related change? Misplacing things from
time to time and retracing steps to find them.
Decreased or poor judgment - People
with Alzheimer’s may experience changes in
judgment or decision-making. For example, they
may use poor judgment when dealing with money,
giving large amounts to telemarketers. They
may pay less attention to grooming or keeping
themselves clean. What’s a typical age-related
change? Making a bad decision once in a while.
Withdrawal from work or social activities
- A person with Alzheimer’s may start to
remove themselves from hobbies, social activities,
work projects or sports. They may have
trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team
or remembering how to complete a favorite
hobby. They also may avoid being social because
of the changes they have experienced. What’s a
typical age-related change? Sometimes feeling
weary of work, family and social obligations.
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