Early Signs of Alzheimer's Disease

Early Signs of Alzheimer's Disease: An Overview

Alzheimer's disease begins slowly. At first, the only early signs of Alzheimer's disease may be mild forgetfulness, which can be confused with age-related memory change. Most people with mild forgetfulness do not have Alzheimer's disease. In the early stage of Alzheimer's disease, people may have trouble remembering recent events, activities, or the names of familiar people or things. And, they may not be able to solve simple math problems. While such difficulties may be bothersome, they usually are not serious enough to cause alarm.

 

A List of Early Signs of Alzheimer's Disease

Early signs of Alzheimer's disease can include:

 

• Asking the same question over and over again

 

• Repeating the same story, word for word, again and again

 

• Forgetting things like how to cook, how to make repairs, or how to play cards -- activities that were previously done with ease and regularity

 

• Losing one's ability to pay bills or balance one's checkbook

 

• Getting lost in familiar surroundings or misplacing household objects

 

• Neglecting to bathe, or wearing the same clothes over and over again, while insisting that they have taken a bath or that their clothes are still clean

 

• Relying on someone else, such as a spouse, to make decisions or answer questions they previously would have handled themselves.