Early Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease

When the phrase is heard “Alzheimer’s disease ” regarding a close relative – it’s always frightening. Even if the signs or symptoms have been quite obvious for some time. It’s much easier (and psychologically more comfortable) to explain strange behavior with phrases like: “Oh, mom is just getting older ” or: “Well, we all forget things sometimes “. The following seven symptoms are closely related to Alzheimer’s disease. If your loved one exhibits these symptoms, it is essential to seek medical help and consult a neurologist.

1. Memory gaps
   Does the person ask the same questions or repeat their stories and remarks after some time?
   Are memory gaps getting worse and starting to affect information that was previously well-known?
   Do the gaps occur more frequently – several times a day or even more often?
   Is this forgetfulness unusual for a person – for example, someone who never needed to make lists or use a notebook?
   We all forget things sometimes. But these more significant symptoms (short-term memory impairment) are the most common and earliest signs of the disease. There is a paradox: a person with Alzheimer’s disease easily forgets recently acquired information (for example, information in response to a just-asked question), but can remember information from the distant past well (such as events or people from childhood, often with vivid details)
2. Word confusion
   Does the person have difficulty finding the right word in speech?
   Does a person forget “Forgotten ” words for descriptive characteristics (for example, “the round thing in which soup is cooked”) ” instead of a pot or “what you comb your hair with” instead of a comb)?
   Of course, it’s normal for anyone to occasionally forget words, especially those that are not often used. However, this symptom is considered a red flag for Alzheimer’s disease—especially if the problem with word retrieval occurs more frequently, and if “lost ” The words are quite simple and common.
   The situation when words are forgotten during a conversation can be unpleasant and very embarrassing for the speaker. After all, a person may stumble during a conversation, get stuck searching for a specific word, or replace the needed word with another. Sometimes this replacement can be very close in meaning (for example, “hairdryer” instead of “hair salon”). At later stages of the disease, even the meaning of the newly chosen word may be completely different (for example, “Bank ” instead of “hair salon “) or meaningless ( “Hairstyling salon “).
3. Mood changes
   Has a previously active person become more calm or apathetic? Has a reserved person become more active?
   Does the patient avoid communication even with family and friends?
   Has the person experienced mood swings and anxiety, especially related to awkward memory situations?
   Has the patient developed unreasonable fears of something new? Distrust of other people?
   Are there signs of depression (including insomnia, poor appetite, low mood)?
   Mood swings are not a 100% sign of Alzheimer’s disease, because old age and any health condition can naturally cause changes in someone’s mood, personality, or behavior. However, when combined with other symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, such mood changes can be very suspicious.
   Remember that in the later stages of Alzheimer’s disease, a patient may exhibit aggressive behavior.
4. Problems with Abstract Thinking
   How well does the patient handle relatively simple mathematical tasks, such as getting change in a store?
   Does the patient have problems paying utility bills (assuming the patient used to handle this and there were no issues before)?
   Does he or she have problems with discussing, understanding explanations, or following instructions?
5. Complex tasks
   Does the person have problems with cooking?
   Does the person engage less in a hobby they used to really enjoy?
   Does a person stop in the middle of an action and not complete it (for example, forget that they started making soup)?
   Has the person stopped engaging in activities they were previously interested in (singing, playing the piano)?
   Organizing a process with several sequential actions is usually very difficult for a person with Alzheimer’s disease. The patient may become distracted, feel confused, or simply lose interest and leave the project unfinished.
6. Disorientation in space
   Having trouble orienting yourself in new or unfamiliar environments (such as a hospital or airport)?
   Have you experienced difficulty orienting yourself in a well-known and familiar area (for example, the way to the store)?
   Have there been episodes of wandering in public, crowded places (for example, while driving, or in a parking lot, supermarket)?
   Has the person started losing track of time, confusing days, months, or even years? For example, right after being reminded of a doctor’s visit, the patient might start getting ready to leave?
   These vivid examples of disorientation are very typical symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease—more so in the later stages of the disease, but sometimes in the early stages as well.
7. Improper storage of items
   Person often “loses ” things?
   Are these items later found in unusual places (for example, in the refrigerator instead of the bread box)?
   Loss of glasses, keys, documents sometimes happens to most people due to age or simply due to inattention. However, this may be a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease, especially if items are stored in inappropriate or unusual places, and the person does not remember putting them there.

  Many of these symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease go unnoticed for a long time. If you observe at least 1-2 of the above signs, watch more closely. It is very likely that a visit to the doctor would be advisable.