Early Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s

With the population of older adults set to grow significantly over the next twenty years, it’s more important than ever to be aware of the health issues facing older adults. One that is often of particular concern is Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia, and is caused by degenerative physical changes in the brain. Early detection is important to maximizing quality of life as the disease progresses, and provides an opportunity for the person diagnosed and their loved ones to conduct important legal and care-oriented planning.

Early Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s

Info from the Alzheimer’s Association

• Memory loss that disrupts your daily life

  • One of the most common and noticeable signs of Alzheimer's is memory loss that significantly interferes with daily activities. This goes beyond occasional forgetfulness; individuals with Alzheimer's may repeatedly forget important dates, events, or recently learned information.

• Difficulty planning or solving problems

  • People with Alzheimer's often struggle with tasks that require complex thinking, such as planning, managing finances, or following a recipe. They may find it increasingly challenging to develop and follow through with multi-step plans.

• Struggling to complete familiar tasks

  • Alzheimer’s can make familiar tasks like dressing, cooking, driving, or even brushing your teeth difficult to complete. Forgetting what order in which familiar tasks are performed can be a read flag for early Alzheimer’s.

• Confusing time or place

  • Folks with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia may not be oriented ot the current time or place. They might forget where they are, or seem unaware of the passage of time.

• Changes in vision - especially judging distance-

  • vision changes that result in difficulty judging distance or balancing can be indicative of dementia. This is in contrast to cataracts, which is a common vision change causing blurry vision that occurs as people age.

• Withdrawal from hobbies or socializing

  • When a person with Alzheimer’s first realizes they are struggling to hold or follow a conversation, they may withdraw from hobbies or socializing due to embarrassment or confusion.

• Unusual changes in mood or personality

  • People with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia can experience unusual mood or personality changes. Commonly this looks like anxiety, fear, suspicion, or anger.

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Screening

If you or someone you know is experiencing one or more of these signs, it’s important to get checked. Schedule a visit with your primary care doctor for an evaluation - while it can be difficult to take this step, but ignoring it won’t make it go away. The sooner you talk to your doctor about your concerns, the sooner you can understand what’s happening and access supportive resources.