What Are the Symptoms of Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease?
AD is the most common form of dementia. Dementia is a broad term for the loss of memory functions or other mental capabilities that affect your daily life. You or a loved one may be developing early onset AD if you experience any of the following:
- Memory Loss
You or a loved one may begin to appear more forgetful than normal, be unable to remember important dates or events. If questions are repeated and frequent reminders are required, you should see your doctor.
- Trouble Planning and Solving Problems
AD may become more obvious if you or a loved one has trouble developing and following a plan of action. Working with numbers may also become difficult. This can often be seen when you or a family member begins to show problems maintaining monthly bills or a checkbook.
- Struggle Finishing Familiar Tasks
Some people may experience a greater problem with attentiveness. Routine day-to-day responsibilities requiring serious thought may take longer as the disease progresses. The skill to drive safely may also be called into question. If you or a loved one gets lost while driving a commonly traveled route, this may be a symptom of AD.
- Trouble Defining Time or Place
Losing track of dates and confusion of time are also two common symptoms. Preparation for future events can become problematic since it’s not occurring instantaneously. As warning sign progress, people with AD can become more and more forgetful about where they are, how they got there, or why they’re there.
- Vision Loss
Vision complications can also occur. This may be as simple as an increased difficulty in reading. You or a 1loved one may also begin to have complications judging distance and determining contrast or color when driving.
- Trouble Finding the Correct Words
Starting or joining in on talks may appear hard. Talks may randomly be paused in the middle, as you or a loved one may forget how to finish a sentence. Because of this, repetitive talks can occur. You may have difficulty finding the correct words for specific items.
- Misplacing Items Often
You or a loved one may begin putting items in uncommon places. It may become more hard to repeat the steps to find any lost items. This may lead you or a loved one to think that others are stealing.
- Trouble Making Decisions
Monetary choices may demonstrate poor judgment. This symptom often causes the most detrimental financial effects. An example of this is donating large amounts of money to telemarketers. Physical hygiene also becomes less of a concern. You or a loved one may experience a rapid decline in bathing frequency and a lack of willingness to change clothing on a daily basis.
- Moving back from Work and Social Events
As symptoms appear, you may notice that you or a loved one becomes more and more withdrawn from common social events, work projects, or hobbies that were previously important.
- Going through Personality and Mood Changes
Extreme swings in mood and personality may occur. A noticeable change in moods may include:
- mix-ups
- hopelessness
- anxiety
- fear
Here are a few support options to check out:
If you or a loved one has AD, there are many resources available that can provide you with more information or connect you with face-to-face support services. The
Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Centeroffers an extensive literature database and has information about the most current research. The
Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiver Center also provides valuable information for caregivers about what to expect at each stage of the disease.
Please contact us for any concerns or questions you may have:
Crown Hospice (361) 575-5900 office
