What Are Some Early Signs Of Alzheimer’s

Falling More Frequently Than You Used To

Constantly tripping over your own two feet? Everyone falls now and again, but frequent falling could be an early signal of Alzheimers disease, according to research. A study published in October 2021 in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience found that older adults who later develop Alzheimers disease are at higher risk for falls and other accidents in the years prior to their diagnosis than those who don’t have Alzheimers.

People will come into our office concerned because they forgot what was on their grocery list last week, but when their spouse says theyve fallen four times in the past year, thats a sign of a problem, says Rankin. Frequent falls may also be a symptom of other brain disorders, including progressive supranuclear palsy.

The Signs Of This Form Of Dementia Are Different From Those Of Normal Age

Did you ever stride purposefully into a room, stand in one spot, and then wonder what you’d intended to do? Have you ever lost your house keys, or forgot where you parked the car? Relax. Occasional memory slips are natural.

“Everyone has these experiences sometimes, but if they frequently happen to you or someone you love, they may be early signs of Alzheimer’s disease,” says Dr. Scott M. McGinnis, a neurologist at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Medical Editor of the Harvard Special Health Report A Guide to Coping with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Memory Loss And 10 Early Signs Of Alzheimers

Alzheimers is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks.While Alzheimers has no current cure, treatments for symptoms are available as research continues. Early diagnosis gives you a chance to seek treatment and plan for the future.There are 10 warning signs of Alzheimers:

If you or someone you live is experiencing these symptoms, consult your doctor right away.This article first appeared in the June 2016 edition of the HealthPerks newsletter.

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Key Points About Early

• Alzheimer disease commonly affects older people, but early-onset Alzheimer disease can affect people in their 30s or 40s.

• It affects memory, thinking, and behavior.

• Although there is no known cure, early diagnosis and treatment can lead to better quality of life.

• Stay healthy with a good diet and regular exercise.

• Avoid alcohol and other substances that may affect memory, thinking, and behavior.

Challenges Performing Everyday Tasks

Difficulty in performing familiar tasks is also one of the early signs of dementia. As a result of the changes brought about by the condition, abstract thinking becomes quite hard.

Moreover, the person with dementia often shows an unusual struggle performing mental tasks.

People with this disease may at many times find it hard to handle regular everyday tasks that they had previously carried out with ease.

For example, organizing events, planning chores or make simple financial transactions like paying bills become more and more challenging due to the significant decline in brain cognition.

Something as simple as brewing a cup of coffee may prove difficult to someone with dementia because it may be troublesome to follow the right steps.

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How Do Doctors Diagnose Alzheimers

Theres no single test to diagnose Alzheimers. In addition to a physical examination, the doctor will ask about your medical history and may order lab work such as blood and urine tests to rule out other causes of symptoms you are experiencing, like medication side effects.

They may also do cognitive testing, which involves asking a series of questions to test and assess memory, focus, problem-solving, counting and language skills.

In some circumstances, brain imaging tools a CT scan, PET scan or MRI — may be used to determine if there are any physical changes in the structure of the brain tissue or high levels of beta-amyloid, a protein that builds up as plaque as brain tissue degenerates. This buildup is a bellwether for Alzheimers.

Mixing Up Time And Place

Since we already chatted about this earlier, it is worth adding it in its own paragraph. While everyone sometimes forgets about what day it is, even where they are going, it is not healthy if this starts happening regularly.

If that begins to occur TOO frequently, it could be one of the early signs of dementia.

Do observe the person as much as possible. Take them to the doctor as soon as possible if this new forgetfulness does not go away. Acting early enough and getting treatment before the condition progresses can alleviate it tremendously.

Also, if you happen to be the person who is sensing something weird happening to you, again, see the doctor or practitioner as soon as possible.

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Changes In Decision Making Ability

Errors in executive functiona set of high-level cognitive processes that oversee behaviors and actionscan be indicative of neurological impairment caused by Alzheimers. While making a mistake once in a while is a normal part of the human experience, individuals with Alzheimers may experience more pronounced changes in judgment or decision making ability. For instance, they may become impulsive in how they manage money or pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean.

Staring With Reduced Gaze And Trouble Reading

Reduced gaze is the clinical term for the dementia symptom that alters peoples ability to move their eyes normally. We all move our eyes and track with them frequently, says Rankin. But people showing early signs of dementia look like theyre staring a lot. Rankin adds that they might skip lines when they try to read. This is one of the signs of dementia that the person with dementia might not completely be aware of, although people around them probably will be.

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Withdrawal From Social Activities

A person with dementia may become disinterested in socializing with other people in home life and at work.

They may become withdrawn and not talk with others or pay attention when others are speaking to them. Additionally, they might stop participating in hobbies, sports, or activities with other people.

Early Signs Of Alzheimers Disease In Young Adults

Aging is a natural process of human life. As we age, we experience subtle and gradual changes in our bodies and brains however, it is important to understand which changes in your brain are not caused by normal aging. Some of these changes may be early signs of Alzheimers disease or other forms of dementia. Here are some of the most common early signs of Alzheimers disease in young adults.

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Eating Nonfood Objects And Rancid Foods

One surprising early sign of dementia is eating nonfood objects or foods that are rancid or spoiled. This is partly because the person forgets what to do with the things in front of them. For example, people with dementia might try to eat a flower from a vase on a restaurant table because they know they are there to eat but dont know what the flower is doing there, says Rankin.

Unlike some other Alzheimers symptoms or dementia symptoms, this one has few other likely explanations.

Challenges In Planning Events In Life

One of the first signs of Alzheimers is not doing something that usually came natural to do before, such as planning or scheduling important things on the calender. Many people may have trouble focusing or solving simple problems as well. Some seniors may also be diagnosed with dementia, a type of Alzheimers. Seniors could also have trouble working with numbers, making it difficult to do their finances or keep to a budget. Plus, it may take seniors much longer to do certain planning task too.

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Early Signs Of Dementia

Early signs of dementia can be vague and subtle at first. Symptoms can include trouble recalling recent events, confusion, difficulty concentrating, personality changes, withdrawal from family and friends and inability to do common daily tasks.

Its easy to brush off early signs as typical aging issues. But, if several symptoms occur together, its best to see your primary care provider right away.

Changes In Mood Or Emotion

The person may be more anxious, frightened or sad, and so at risk of depression. It is also common to become more irritable perhaps in frustration at lost abilities or easily upset. A person can often be more withdrawn, lack self-confidence and lose interest in hobbies or people.

Changes in behaviour are not common in early-stage dementia, other than in FTD. A person with behavioural variant FTD may lose their inhibitions and behave in socially inappropriate ways. They may also act impulsively and lose empathy for others.

Significant physical changes at this stage tend to be limited to DLB, where problems with movement are similar to Parkinsons disease. If someone with vascular or mixed dementia has a stroke, this can lead to weak limbs on one side.

Need help finding dementia information?Need help finding dementia information? .

Everybody forgets things from time to time. But if you or other people are noticing that memory problems are getting worse, or affecting everyday life, it could be a sign of dementia.

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Misplacing Things Or Losing The Ability To Retrace Steps

One the the most common things that people with Alzheimers tend to do is losing something because they just dont remember where they left it. They find it hard to trace their steps. Examples of this could be their car keys to a book on a shelf. They could be holding the keys in their hands and accuse others of stealing them. Many seniors will also find it hard to retrace their steps when this sign develops. Unfortunately, this starts to happen more as the disease progresses further.

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• 2022. 8. 18. ·By recognizing the early signs of dementia, you can often get better treatment. About 30% of dementia is not Alzheimer’s and may even be something that can be prevented and cured. Alzheimer’s dementia can’t be cured, but early detection allows for treatment to perhaps delay the disease and to plan for the future.
• Dementia currently affects at least five million adults in the U.S., per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , but it can be hard to diagnose as symptoms are subtle and it includes a range of diseases, which also means symptoms may vary widely from person to person. There are, however, a few general signs that crop up early on.
• 2015. 7. 2. ·Early-onset refers to dementia that occurs earlier in one’s life than other forms of dementia, which typically manifest in one’s 50s. July 02, 2015. Dementia.org. Early-onset dementia, or younger-onset dementia, is a dementia
• 14 SignsOfDementia In Women 2021 – ReaDementia . hot readementia.com. Bad time management habits are one of the signsofdementia in women. The loss of memory, deficiency of energy, disturbance in the sleeping cycle, depression and other such interconnected situations of dementia are a route to difficulties in the management of time.
• Dementia is broken down into early, mid, and late stages, with a worsening of symptoms as the condition progresses. The long-term effects of dementia can be difficult for both those affected and …

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Talking With A Doctor

After considering the persons symptoms and ordering screening tests, the doctor may offer a preliminary diagnosis or refer the person to a Cognitive Dementia and Memory Service clinic, neurologist, geriatrician or psychiatrist.Some people may be resistant to the idea of visiting a doctor. In some cases, people do not realise, or else they deny, that there is anything wrong with them. This can be due to the brain changes of dementia that interfere with the ability to recognise or appreciate the changes occurring. Others have an insight of the changes, but may be afraid of having their fears confirmed.One of the most effective ways to overcome this problem is to find another reason for a visit to the doctor. Perhaps suggest a check-up for a symptom that the person is willing to acknowledge, such as blood pressure, or suggest a review of a long-term condition or medication.Another way is to suggest that it is time for both of you to have a physical check-up. Any expressed anxiety by the person is an excellent opportunity to suggest a visit to the doctor. Be sure to provide a lot of reassurance. A calm, caring attitude at this time can help overcome the person’s very real worries and fears.Sometimes, your friend or family member may refuse to visit the doctor to ask about their symptoms. You can take a number of actions to get support including:

• talking with other carers who may have had to deal with similar situations

The Alzheimers Warning Signs You Should Know

Its common for older adults to experience what we call senior moments temporary lapses of memory that occur while completing common, everyday activities. This can include misplaced keys, losing glasses, forgetting where you parked your car, or leaving a shopping list at home.

These mental glitches are usually associated with aging and should not cause much concern. However, when problems with memory begin to interfere with the ability to function normally at home or start to disrupt everyday life and put you in a dangerous situation, it may be time to seek help from a medical professional.

Alzheimers disease is a type of dementia that causes problems with cognitive thinking, language, behavior, and memory. It is the most common form of dementia among the elderly, with symptoms that gradually worsen over time.

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Symptoms Of Mild Cognitive Impairment

Some people have a condition called mild cognitive impairment, or MCI. It can be an early sign of Alzheimers. But, not everyone with MCI will develop Alzheimers disease. People with MCI can still take care of themselves and do their normal activities. MCI memory problems may include:

• Losing things often
• Forgetting to go to events or appointments
• Having more trouble coming up with words than other people the same age

Learn more about Alzheimer’s disease from MedlinePlus.

New Problems With Speaking Writing Or Understanding Words

We all have times where we’re searching for the right word. Hence the phrase, “It’s on the tip of my tongue.”

But a person with Alzheimer’s will likely have trouble following or joining a conversation, and struggle with vocabulary, such as finding words or calling things or people by the wrong name. They also tend to repeat themselves without being aware of it.

It may also be increasingly difficult to follow along with books, movies or TV shows, especially when they are long or complex.

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Rapid And Unexplained Mood Swings And/or Depression

Mood and personality changes can be associated with early signs of dementia. This could include becoming confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious, and your parent may find themselves getting easily upset in places they feel unsure about.

Some of the dementia symptoms NHS lists include:

• Increased anxiety
• Violent Mood Swings

For example, your parent may appear calm, then visibly upset, and then very angry in a matter of minutes. This is a significant sign of dementia anger and frustration specifically if its unprovoked.

Other physical signs include pacing, obsessing over minor details, agitation, fear, confusion, rage and feeling overwhelmed because theyre trying to make sense of a world thats now confusing to them.

This is different to: more typical age-related behaviours such as becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted.

An Increase In Compulsive Ritualistic Behaviors

One sign of dementia that most people dont expect is the need to complete extreme rituals or compulsive behaviors. Plenty of people have odd habits and like things done a certain way, says Rankin. But while these habits are within the normal realm, extreme hoarding or detailed rituals or compulsions, such as buying a crossword puzzle book every time they go to the store even if they have hundreds of them, can be dementia symptoms.

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How To Spot Early Signs Of Alzheimers Disease

Memory, judgment, reasoning and language skills are all important cognitive functions that falter when Alzheimers disease takes hold. Alzheimers is a form of degenerative dementia that eventually affects a persons ability to function on their own. But how can we tell if a slip-up is just a natural mistake or an early sign of something bigger and more worrisome?

Once these functions decline so much that they start negatively affecting daily life, its time to pay attention. Being aware of these first signs can help you identify if the memory changes that you or a loved one are experiencing are simply a normal part of aging, or a sign of something more serious.