Symptoms And Signs Of Alzheimer’s Disease

When To See A Doctor

If you see yourself or your loved one described in these symptoms, contact your physician to arrange for an evaluation. Diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease involves several tests to rule out other conditions and is an important first step in treatment and management of the disease.

Know, though, that not all problems with cognition are due to Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. This is one of many reasons why it’s important to see your physician if you’re experiencing these symptoms.

Stages Of Alzheimer Disease

The stages of Alzheimer disease usually follow a progressive pattern. But each person moves through the disease stages in his or her own way. Knowing these stages helps healthcare providers and family members make decisions about how to care for someone who has Alzheimer disease.

Preclinical stage. Changes in the brain begin years before a person shows any signs of the disease. This time period is called preclinical Alzheimer disease and it can last for years.

Mild, early stage. Symptoms at this stage include mild forgetfulness. This may seem like the mild forgetfulness that often comes with aging. But it may also include problems with concentration.

A person may still live independently at this stage, but may have problems:

• Remembering a name

• Staying organized

The person may be aware of memory lapses and their friends, family or neighbors may also notice these difficulties.

Moderate, middle stage. This is typically the longest stage, usually lasting many years. At this stage, symptoms include:

• Increasing trouble remembering events

• Problems learning new things

• Trouble with planning complicated events, like a dinner

• Trouble remembering their own name, but not details about their own life, such as address and phone number

• Problems with reading, writing, and working with numbers

As the disease progresses, the person may:

Physical changes may occur as well. Some people have sleep problems. Wandering away from home is often a concern.

Severe, late stage. At this stage, a person:

What Causes Alzheimers Disease

An abnormal build-up of proteins in your brain causes Alzheimers disease. The build-up of these proteins amyloid protein and tau protein causes brain cells to die.

The human brain contains over 100 billion nerve cells and other cells. The nerve cells work together to fulfill all the communications needed to perform functions such as thinking, learning, remembering and planning.

Scientists believe that amyloid protein builds up in your brain cells, forming larger masses called plaques. Twisted fibers of another protein called tau form into tangles. These plaques and tangles block the communication between nerve cells, which prevents them from carrying out their processes.

The slow and ongoing death of the nerve cells results in the symptoms of Alzheimers disease. Nerve cell death starts in one area of your brain and then spreads to other areas.

Despite ongoing research, scientists still dont know what exactly causes these proteins to build up. So far, they believe that a genetic mutation may cause early-onset Alzheimers. They think that late-onset Alzheimers happens due to a complex series of brain changes that may occur over decades. A combination of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors likely contribute to the cause.

Is Alzheimers hereditary?

Researchers dont know why some people get Alzheimers disease and others dont. But theyve identified several factors that increase your risk for Alzheimers, including genetic factors.

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Stages And Symptoms Of Alzheimers Disease

Alzheimers disease usually progresses gradually, lasting two to 20 years, with an average of seven years in the United States. Scientists now know that Alzheimers disease exists in a persons body long before symptoms appear. Researchers call this the pre-clinical/pre-symptomatic stage. Once symptoms do appear, they increase in severity as a person with Alzheimers moves from the earliest to the final stages of the disease.

The stages of clinical diagnosis and their symptoms include:

What Is Known About Alzheimers Disease

Scientists do not yet fully understand what causes Alzheimers disease. There likely is not a single cause but rather several factors that can affect each person differently.

• Age is the best known risk factor for Alzheimers disease.
• Family historyresearchers believe that genetics may play a role in developing Alzheimers disease. However, genes do not equal destiny. A healthy lifestyle may help reduce your risk of developing Alzheimers disease. Two large, long term studies indicate that adequate physical activity, a nutritious diet, limited alcohol consumption, and not smoking may help people. To learn more about the study, you can listen to a short podcast.
• Changes in the brain can begin years before the first symptoms appear.
• Researchers are studying whether education, diet, and environment play a role in developing Alzheimers disease.
• There is growing scientific evidence that healthy behaviors, which have been shown to prevent cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, may also reduce risk for subjective cognitive decline. Heres 8 ways.

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What Is Mild Cognitive Impairment

Mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, is a condition in which people have more memory problems than normal for their age but are still able to carry out their normal daily activities. A doctor can do thinking, memory, and language tests to see if a person has MCI. People with MCI are at a greater risk for developing Alzheimers disease, so its important to see a doctor or specialist regularly if you have this condition.

Keep Things Simpleand Other Tips

Caregivers cannot stop Alzheimers-related changes in personality and behavior, but they can learn to cope with them. Here are some tips:

• Keep things simple. Ask or say one thing at a time.
• Have a daily routine, so the person knows when certain things will happen.
• Reassure the person that he or she is safe and you are there to help.
• Focus on his or her feelings rather than words. For example, say, You seem worried.
• Dont argue or try to reason with the person.
• Try not to show your frustration or anger. If you get upset, take deep breaths and count to 10. If its safe, leave the room for a few minutes.
• Use humor when you can.
• Give people who pace a lot a safe place to walk. Provide comfortable, sturdy shoes. Give them light snacks to eat as they walk, so they dont lose too much weight, and make sure they have enough to drink.
• Try using music, singing, or dancing to distract the person.
• Ask for help. For instance, say, Lets set the table or I need help folding the clothes.

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When To See Your Gp

If you’re worried about your memory or think you may have dementia, speak to your GP.

You may be worried about someone else’s memory problems. If so, encourage them to make an appointment. You might suggest going along with them.

Dementia is not the only cause of memory problems. Depression, stress, medicines or other health problems can also be the cause.

Your GP can carry out some simple checks to try to find out what the cause may be. If it is dementia, there are medicines, therapies and support available. These can help you to live your life the way you want to for as long as possible.

Your GP can also refer you to a specialist for more tests if necessary.

Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE

Page last reviewed: 1 September 2022 Next review due: 1 September 2025

Spotting Early Symptoms And Signs Of Alzheimers Disease

People with memory problems may be first to notice that they are confused, have trouble with normal activities, or have other symptoms. Or, family and friends may be the first to notice. In either case, itâs important to know what to look for. Changes in mood or behavior, struggling with familiar activities, difficulty speaking or writing, and changes in vision or perception can be early signs of Alzheimerâs disease.

Symptoms can go on for years. But they can also get worse quickly. It is important to talk to a doctor as soon as you notice them. This can help you and your loved one find out whatâs wrong and make a plan.

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Stages Of Alzheimers Disease

Some features of Alzheimers disease are commonly classified into three stages, or phases. Not all these features will be present in every person, and they might occur at different stages.

Mild Alzheimers disease

Sometimes this stage is only apparent in hindsight. The onset of Alzheimers disease is usually gradual and it is often impossible to identify exactly when it began.

Someone might:

• have difficulty shopping or preparing meals.

Moderate Alzheimers disease

At this stage, the impacts of the condition are more apparent and prevalent. A person may experience significant challenges to their independence and require daily support.

Someone might:

• be forgetful of current and recent events, although generally remember the distant past, even if details may be forgotten or confused
• often be confused regarding time and place
• become lost more easily
• forget the names of family or friends, or confuse family members
• forget saucepans or kettles left heating on the stove
• be less able to perform simple calculations
• show poor judgement and make poor decisions
• see or hear things that are not there or become suspicious of others

Signs And Symptoms Of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive condition, which means the symptoms develop gradually and become more severe over the course of several years. It affects multiple brain functions.

The first sign of Alzheimer’s disease is usually minor memory problems. For example, this could be forgetting about recent conversations or events, and forgetting the names of places and objects.

As the condition develops, memory problems become more severe and further symptoms can develop, such as:

• confusion, disorientation and getting lost in familiar places
• difficulty planning or making decisions
• problems with speech and language
• problems moving around without assistance or performing self-care tasks
• personality changes, such as becoming aggressive, demanding and suspicious of others
• hallucinations and delusions
• low mood or anxiety

Read more about the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease

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What Causes Alzheimer’s Disease

Despite its prevalence and the amount of research into the disease, theres still much about Alzheimers that remains unclear. For a long time, scientists looking for the causes of Alzheimers focused mainly on the buildup of proteins in the brainamyloid that accumulates in plaques and tau that forms tangleswhich degenerate nerve connections and gradually destroy memory and thinking. However, some drug experiments have found that even when amyloid plaque is addressed, cognitive decline still seems to continue in patients. Ongoing studies continue to explore the role that protein buildup may play in the development of the disease.

Evidence suggests that many other factors may also play a role in the development of the disease, such as inflammation, immunity impairment, exposure to toxins, and changes in the way the brain handles glucose. Since women experience Alzheimers at significantly higher rates than men, its possible hormonal changes could also contribute to the disease.

With the exception of early-onset Alzheimers, the disease is most likely triggered by a combination of advancing age and genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.

How Alzheimer’s Disease Is Treated

There’s no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but medication is available that can help relieve some of the symptoms and slow down the progression of the condition in some people.

Various other types of support are also available to help people with Alzheimer’s live as independently as possible, such as making changes to your home environment so it’s easier to move around and remember daily tasks.

Psychological treatments such as cognitive stimulation therapy may also be offered to help support your memory, problem solving skills and language ability.

Read more about treating Alzheimer’s disease

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Start Exercising Now And Stay Active

We already know that exercise is good for your heart and reduces the risk for almost every type of cancer, but physical exercise also slows down the brain drain that comes with aging and lowers the risk of developing Alzheimers. Studies show that exercising as few as 10 minutes a day can boost brain function, but you should still aim for at least 30 minutes, three to four times a week.

What Are The Stages Of Alzheimers Disease

Alzheimers disease organizations and healthcare providers use various terms to describe the stages of Alzheimers disease based on symptoms.

While the terms vary, the stages all follow the same pattern AD symptoms progressively worsen over time.

No two people experience AD in the same way, though. Each person with Alzheimers disease will progress through the stages at different speeds. Not all changes will occur in each person. It can sometimes be difficult for providers to place a person with AD in a specific stage as stages may overlap.

Some organizations and providers frame the stages of Alzheimers disease in terms of dementia:

• Preclinical Alzheimers disease.
• Mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimers disease.
• Mild dementia due to Alzheimers disease.
• Moderate dementia due to Alzheimers disease
• Severe dementia due to Alzheimers disease.

Other organizations and providers more broadly explain the stages as:

Dont be afraid to ask your healthcare provider or your loved ones provider what they mean when they use certain words to describe the stages of Alzheimers.

What is preclinical Alzheimers disease?

Providers typically only reference the preclinical stage in research on Alzheimers disease. People with AD in the preclinical stage typically have no symptoms .

There are now brain imaging tests that can detect deposits of a protein in your brain called amyloid that interfere with your brains communication system before symptoms start.

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Dr Zoe Says Walking Can Reduce Risk Of Dementia

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According to a leading charity, there are five main signs of the brain-robbing condition to look out for. Age UK says “problems with memory” is one of the signs of dementia to watch, which can present in numerous ways. For instance, people who have dementia could forget the name of people or things, they may struggle to remember recent events, and they may forget where things are kept.

Early Onset Alzheimers Disease

Although age is the main risk factor for Alzheimers disease, this is not just a condition that affects older adults.

According to the Alzheimers Association, early onset Alzheimers disease affects around 200,000 U.S. adults under the age of 65 years. Many people with this condition are in their 40s or 50s.

In many cases, doctors do not know why younger people develop this condition. Several rare genes can cause the condition. When there is a genetic cause, it is known as familial Alzheimers disease.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Alzheimer’s Disease

Memory loss is usually the first sign of Alzheimer’s disease. Often the person who has a memory problem doesn’t notice it, but family and friends do.

Having some short-term memory loss in your 60s and 70s is common, but this doesn’t mean it’s Alzheimer’s disease.

Normal memory problems aren’t the same as the kind of memory problems that may be caused by Alzheimer’s disease. For example, normally you might forget:

• Parts of an experience.
• Where your car is parked.
• A person’s name.

With Alzheimer’s disease, you might forget:

• An entire experience.
• What your car looks like.
• Having ever known a certain person.

Following are some of the symptoms of mild, moderate, and severe Alzheimer’s disease. Symptoms vary as the disease progresses. Talk to your doctor if a friend or family member has any of the signs.

Mild Alzheimer’s disease

Usually, a person with mild Alzheimer’s disease:

• Avoids new and unfamiliar situations.
• Has delayed reactions.
• Has trouble learning and remembering new information.
• Starts speaking more slowly than in the past.
• Starts using poor judgment and making wrong decisions.
• May have mood swings and become depressed, grouchy, or restless.

These symptoms often are more obvious when the person is in a new and unfamiliar place or situation.

Some people have memory loss called mild cognitive impairment. People with this condition are at risk for Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia. But not all people with mild cognitive impairment progress to dementia.

How Alzheimers Disease Progresses

An individuals abilities deteriorate over time, although the progression varies from person to person.

As Alzheimers disease affects different areas of the brain, specific functions or abilities are lost. Short-term memory is often the first to be affected, but as the disease progresses, long-term memory is also lost. The disease also affects many of the brains other functions and consequently language, attention, judgement and many other aspects of behaviour are affected.

Some abilities remain, although these lessen as Alzheimers disease progresses. People living with advancing dementia may keep their senses of touch and hearing, and also respond to emotion even in the advanced stages of the condition.

At the end stages of Alzheimers disease many people become immobile and dependent, requiring extensive care.

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Practical Tips For People With Alzheimer’s

If you have Alzheimer’s disease, you may find it useful to:

• keep a diary and write down things you want to remember
• pin a weekly timetable to the wall
• put your keys in an obvious place, such as in a large bowl in your living room
• have a daily newspaper delivered to remind you of the day and date
• put labels on cupboards and drawers
• keep useful telephone numbers by the phone
• write yourself reminders for example, put a note on the front door to remind you to take your keys with you if you go out
• programme people’s names and numbers into your telephone
• set the alarm on your watch to act as a reminder
• install safety devices such as gas detectors and smoke alarms throughout your home

It may also be helpful to get in touch with a local or national Alzheimer’s or dementia support group, such as the Alzheimer’s Society, for more information and advice about living with Alzheimer’s disease.

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