Early signs of Alzheimer’s disease

• Difficulty completing daily tasks
• Memory loss
• Difficulty completing daily tasks
• Difficulty expressing yourself
• No longer able to count
• No longer able to follow a plan
• Putting things away in the wrong place
• Can you find the answer?
• Desire for isolation
• Mood changes
• Personality changes
• Loss of motivation
• Reduced energy
• Poor judgment
• Coordination problems
• Difficulty sleeping
• Strange ideas
• Feeling a loss of control over your life

Difficulty completing daily tasks

According to the Mayo Clinic, Alzheimer’s is a degenerative disease that destroys brain cells, called neurons. It was first described in 1906 by a German doctor named Alois Alzheimer.

While a cure for this form of dementia has not yet been found, being aware of certain early signs is important. Several treatments, developed to mitigate these symptoms, are more likely to work if the disease is diagnosed early.

If you are worried about your health, don’t wait to make an appointment with your doctor.

Memory loss

Do you consistently forget where you put your keys? Perhaps you are simply forgetful by nature. On the other hand, if you frequently forget recent events or new information, the Alzheimer Society cautions that you may be at risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

Difficulty completing daily tasks

Do you no longer know how to use your dishwasher? Has preparing a meal become a challenge? Have you forgotten how to brush your teeth? One of the most common early signs of Alzheimer’s is having difficulty performing habitual activities. If this sounds like you, make an appointment to see your doctor.

Difficulty expressing yourself

Occasionally having a hard time finding the right word does not necessarily mean that you have Alzheimer’s disease. However, if your problems with language (difficulty finishing sentences, forgetting simple words, calling things by the wrong name, etc.) make it difficult for your friends and family to understand you, you are at a higher risk of suffering from Alzheimer’s.

Disorientation

One of the most common early signs of Alzheimer’s disease is disorientation. Some sufferers forget, for example, what day it is. Others believe they are living in a different time period or have difficulty figuring out where they are. Such signs should not be taken lightly and require medical attention.

No longer able to count

Making a mistake from time to time when working on your budget is a common occurrence. We can’t all be math geniuses.

But, it may be time to worry when you can no longer figure out how to pay your bills or add simple sums. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, one of the early signs of Alzheimer’s is having difficulty working with numbers.

No longer able to follow a plan

Some people have a hard time following a plan, but this doesn’t mean that they are at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. However, those likely to contract this neurodegenerative condition find it difficult to plan their daily activities. They may be unable to follow a recipe, for instance.

Putting things away in the wrong place

People at risk of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s tend to store regularly used items incorrectly. For example, they may put dirty dishes in the washing machine or soiled clothing in the dishwasher. They then feel lost when they cannot find improperly stored objects.

Can you find the answer?

Does your image in the mirror seem to be that of a stranger? You should see your doctor, because this may be a symptom of Alzheimer’s.

Age-related vision loss and the need to wear glasses is absolutely normal. The Alzheimer’s Association warns that losing the ability to read, judge distances, and recognize colours, on the other hand, is not normal.

Desire for isolation

Skipping out on the gym despite having a membership does not mean you are at risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Like many others, you’ve probably simply lost your motivation for working out.

In contrast, those suffering from Alzheimer’s tend to isolate themselves due to their difficulty with being in a group. They gradually abandon social activities they once enjoyed and come to find the company of others unpleasant.

Mood changes

Mood changes may be caused by all sorts of things. Most of the time, they are just temporary, and everything usually balances out in the end. But, sometimes such changes may indicate a more serious underlying condition. People living with Alzheimer’s disease often experience sudden changes in mood. They tend to feel sad then joyful or calm then anxious within a matter of seconds.

Personality changes

Do your friends no longer recognize you? Are your loved ones noticing a change in your personality? You should visit a healthcare professional for an evaluation. In some cases, Alzheimer sufferers may undergo a change in personality. For example, an extremely introverted person may become extroverted or vice versa.

Loss of motivation

While decreased motivation is not always a sign of Alzheimer’s disease (causes may include fatigue or depression), it should not be taken lightly. If your lack of enthusiasm persists and begins to have a negative effect on your quality of life, talk to a doctor about it.

Drowsiness

The fact that your boss criticizes your lack of initiative doesn’t mean that you have Alzheimer’s. Some people are simply more passive than others.

However, if you’ve noticed that you have become less spontaneous or that you no longer show initiative in certain areas of your life, make an appointment with your healthcare provider. The National Institute on Aging says that you may be experiencing an early sign of Alzheimer’s.

Reduced energy

Fatigue often accompanies many health problems, like the flu, for example. In the case of Alzheimer’s, feeling a lack of energy occurs in the first stages of the disease and lasts an average of two to four years. Whatever the cause, unexplained fatigue requires medical attention.

Poor judgment

If you suspect that you have Alzheimer’s, your doctor will probably evaluate the reliability of your judgment.

What exactly does poor judgment look like? Piling on the layers in the middle of a heatwave or going outside in winter without a coat are typical examples of behaviour observed in people with dementia.

Coordination problems

Patients with mild Alzheimer’s sometimes experience problems with coordination. They lose the ability to use certain everyday objects or have difficulty writing. That said, people who have always had poor handwriting are not necessarily at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

Difficulty sleeping

Trouble sleeping is a nightly struggle for many people living with Alzheimer’s and is often accompanied by some of the other symptoms mentioned in this article.

Strange ideas

During the first years with the disease, some Alzheimer’s sufferers have unusual thoughts. They may, for instance, misconstrue others’ intentions. Some may, for example, think that a nurse is going to harm them or that a doctor is going to “play around in their heads.”

Note that other illnesses, such as schizophrenia, also present this symptom.

Feeling a loss of control over your life

Prior to the manifestation of more serious symptoms, certain people in the first stages of Alzheimer’s sense an impending loss of control over their lives. Without a diagnosis, their feelings remain unexplained, causing enormous frustration.

If you think that you may have Alzheimer’s, or if you are worried about your health, consult a doctor.