What are the Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease

The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease settle in real slowly at first. The earliest signs associated with this form of dementia could be little more than some mild confusion or occasional absent mindfulness. As the disease progresses, memories can be slowly taken away. It’s often the afflicted that are the first to notice these unusual problems, and you shouldn’t hesitate to share these concerns with your doctor. Early intervention can make a big impact on long-run treatment strategies.

(Unfortunately, there is still no cure available for this terrible illness, but there are new answers being uncovered through ongoing clinical research on Alzheimer’s disease.)

Once symptoms at which symptoms become noticeable and eventually debilitating can vary widely from case to case. Some patients are never fully aware of the extent of their symptoms. To stay better aware, here are some early indications which you should keep an eye out for:

Memory Problems

It’s normal to experience the occasional lapse in memory. Things like keys and people’s names get forgotten every single day. Alzheimer’s disease produces a dense fog of forgetfulness that persists and grows indefinitely. Someone who develops Alzheimer’s may:

• Ask the same question numerous times, or repeat a similar statement only minutes later without realizing it.
• Have no recollection of recent activities or events
• Be losing more and more possessions, or leaving them in irrational places
• Have an issue recalling the name of a close friend or family member
• Experience some unusual disorientation/issues with spatial dimensions

People living with Alzheimer’s could have problems recalling the date, the time of year or other life details. As the symptoms of the disease worsen, memory issues may also cause certain motor coordination abilities.

Deteriorating Literacy and Speech Capabilities

If you’ve been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, then it can become increasingly difficult to find the exact words you’re looking for in everyday situations. Patients can face unfamiliar challenges expressing themselves what used to be a very familiar fashion. A person’s literacy will also become more strained in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s.

Maintaining conversations can become much more difficult– especially anything involving abstract concepts. Most dementia patients are not capable of maintaining their own finances and bills.

Critical Thinking Skills Decline

The ability to problem solve and respond quickly to issues is severely impacted by this dementia. As Alzheimer’s progresses further, patients can lose the ability to do many things on their own, such as:

• Cook
• Drive a car
• Get dressed in the morning

Early symptoms can present themselves as issues completing once routine actions or tasks. The disease attacks the body’s ability to preserve muscle memory and things that once took no active thought soon needs to be planned for. Alzheimer caregivers are often responsible for helping patients get dressed or bathe.

Changes in Personality

Eventually, this illness may produce acute changes in a patient’s personality. Alterations in the afflicted brain can cause people to act and feel differently. All of the following have been associated with Alzheimer’s disease:

• Irregular mood swings
• Depression
• Social withdrawal
• Abnormal aggressiveness or irritability
• Loss of inhibitions
• Distrust in people you were once close to
• Causeless wandering
• Delusions, such as having items stolen

This form of dementia can be quite complex, so a given person could experience symptoms that aren’t covered here. If you are concerned about yourself or a loved one, be sure to ask your doctor about it.