Dementia: Not a Normal Part of Aging, Pt. 3

Early Symptoms of Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer's causes changes in a person’s brain that result in a slow decline in memory, thinking, and reasoning ability. The Alzheimer’s Association has outlined 10 warning signs and symptoms that could indicate possible Alzheimer’s. If you notice any of them, schedule an appointment with your doctor. Do not ignore them.

1. Memory Loss that Disrupts Daily Life: Some of the most common signs of early-stage Alzheimer’s are forgetting newly learned information, important dates or events, and asking the same questions repeatedly. Some individuals find themselves relying on memory aids, such as cueing from family members or reminder notes, for things they used to manage on their own. Some age-related cognitive decline is normal, such as forgetting names or dates of appointments, but typically someone without Alzheimer’s will remember them later.

2. Challenges in Planning or Problem Solving: Some people in early-stage Alzheimer’s may experience changes in their ability to follow instructions or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a recipe that was once familiar to them or keeping track of monthly bills. They may also have a hard time concentrating and take longer to do things than they did previously. Normal age-related cognitive decline may involve making occasional mistakes when managing finances or household bills, but when it becomes frequent, it may be an early sign of Alzheimer’s dementia.

3. Difficulty Completing Familiar Tasks: People with Alzheimer's often have a difficult time completing daily tasks, such as driving to a familiar location, remembering the rules of a favorite game, or organizing a grocery list. It is normal to require occasional help when operating a kitchen appliance or electronic device, but when the difficulty becomes a daily occurrence, it may be an early sign of Alzheimer’s.

4. Confusion with Time or Place: People in early-to-mid stages of Alzheimer's often lose track of dates, seasons, and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding events that are not happening immediately. They also may forget where they are or how they got there. It is a typical age-related event to occasionally forget the date and remember it later, but those with Alzheimer’s have lost the ability to do that.

5. Trouble Understanding Visual Images and Spatial Relationships: Having vision problems may be a sign of Alzheimer's for some people. They may experience trouble with balancing, reading, judging distance, and determining color or contrast, which can make driving dangerous. These vision and spatial awareness problems are different from normal age-related diseases of the eye, such as cataracts or macular degeneration.

6. New Problems Using Words to Speak or Write: Having trouble following or joining a conversation is normal for people with Alzheimer’s. They may frequently repeat themselves or stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue. They may also struggle with vocabulary, calling familiar objects by the wrong name or simply not remembering certain words. This is in contrast to occasionally having trouble finding the right words, as this is a normal part of aging.

7. Misplacing Objects and Being Unable to Retrace One’s Steps: Someone living with Alzheimer's disease may put things in unusual places, e.g., putting a watch in the refrigerator. They may lose things and be unable to retrace their steps to find the objects again. As the disease progresses, he or she may accuse others of stealing. It is a normal part of aging to occasionally misplace things and find them later, but when it happens frequently and objects are found in unusual places, it could be a sign of Alzheimer’s.

8. Decreased or Poor Judgement: Someone with Alzheimer’s may experience changes in decision-making and judgement (e.g., using poor judgment when dealing with money or paying less attention to personal hygiene.) It is typical to make a poor decision occasionally, such as neglecting to change the oil in the car, but noticeably worse judgement and decision-making ability may indicate possible Alzheimer’s.

9. Withdrawal from Work or Social Activities: A person living with Alzheimer’s may experience changes in his or her ability to hold and follow a conversation, which can result in withdrawing from hobbies, social activities, and/or other engagements. This contrasts with feeling tired or uninterested in a social event and choosing not to participate, which is normal.

10. Changes in Mood and Personality: Individuals living with Alzheimer’s may experience changes in their mood and personality. They may become confused, depressed, suspicious, fearful, or anxious. They may become easily upset with friends and family or when they are outside of their comfort zone. Normal behavior includes becoming irritable on occasion if a routine is disrupted, but if it is frequent and accompanied by other changes in mood and personality, it may be a warning sign of Alzheimer’s.

Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease most commonly affects older adults, but it can affect people in their 30s or 40s. When Alzheimer's disease occurs in someone under age 65, it is known as early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. About 5% to 6% of people with Alzheimer's disease develop symptoms before age 65. Roughly 6 million Americans have Alzheimer's, so roughly 300,000 to 360,000 people have the early-onset form of the disease (Mayo Clinic Staff, n.d.). Most of them are in their 40s and 50s when they begin showing symptoms. Most people with early-onset Alzheimer's have symptoms that closely mirror the more common form of the disease.

There are two categories of early-onset Alzheimer’s:

1. Common Alzheimer Disease: Most people with early-onset Alzheimer disease have the common form of the disease. The disease progresses in roughly the same way as it does in older adults.

2. Genetic (Familial) Alzheimer Disease: This form is very rare. A few hundred people have genes that directly contribute to Alzheimer disease. These individuals start showing symptoms of Alzheimer’s in their 30s, 40s, or 50s.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. For both the common form and the early-onset form, early and accurate diagnosis is crucial to receiving the best treatments and promoting the highest quality of life. If you or a loved one is experiencing any of the 10 warning signs outlined above, please seek guidance from your primary care physician. 

Helpful Resources for Alzheimer’s Disease:

• Alzheimer’s and Dementia Services of Northern Indiana

• Alzheimer’s Association

• Alzheimer’s Association: Greater Indiana Chapter

• Dementia Friends Indiana

• Indiana Department of Health: Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia Resource Center

References

 “10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer's.” Alzheimer’s Association. (n.d.)

Mayo Clinic Staff. (n.d.) Young-onset Alzheimer's: When symptoms begin before age 65.

 “What is Alzheimer’s Disease?” Alzheimer’s Association. (n.d.)