9 Early Alzheimer’s Disease Symptoms and Other Dementia

Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are brain disorders that gradually worsen and affect millions of people around the world. They result in memory loss, declining thinking abilities, and changes in behavior, all of which make it harder to manage daily life and stay independent. It’s crucial to detect and diagnose Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias early, so the individual and their family can plan for the future and get the best care and treatment.

We will discover nine early Alzheimer’s disease symptoms you should know. These symptoms may vary from person to person and may not always indicate Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia. However, if you notice these symptoms in yourself or a loved one, you should consult your doctor immediately.

Highlights

• Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia are brain disorders that cause memory loss, cognitive decline, and behavioral changes.
• Early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia are essential for getting the best treatment and care possible.
• Nine early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia are memory loss that disrupts daily life, difficulty planning or solving problems, difficulty completing familiar tasks, confusion with time or place, trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships, new problems with words in speaking or writing, misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps, decreased or poor judgment, and withdrawal from work or social activities.
• If you notice these symptoms in yourself or a loved one, consult your doctor immediately.

Memory loss that disrupts daily life

One of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia is memory loss, especially in the early stage. Memory loss can affect daily life in many ways, such as:

• Forgetting important dates or events, such as birthdays, anniversaries, or appointments.
• Asking the same questions repeatedly, such as what day, time, or what you just said.
• Relying on memory aids or family members for things that used to be handled independently, such as using a calendar, a list, a phone, or a GPS to remember things.
• Forgetting names of people, places, or things, such as your friends, neighbors, favorite restaurants, or car keys.

Memory loss is expected as we age, but it is not normal when it disrupts daily life and affects your mental health and ability to function. If you or a loved one experiences memory loss that interferes with your daily activities, you should see your doctor for a check-up.

Tips

• Use reminders, calendars, notes, or electronic devices to help them remember things.
• Create a routine or schedule for daily tasks and activities, and stick to it as much as possible.
• Keep things in the same place, and label or color-code items frequently used or misplaced.
• Be patient and supportive, and avoid criticizing or arguing with them.

Difficulty planning or solving problems

Another sign of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia is difficulty planning or solving problems. That can affect the ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers, such as:

• Having trouble following a familiar recipe or cooking a meal, especially if it involves multiple steps or ingredients.
• Need help keeping track of monthly bills or a checkbook or making errors or mistakes when paying or managing finances.
• Having trouble concentrating, thinking logically, or taking longer than usual to do things that require mental effort or calculation.

Difficulty planning or solving problems can be caused by stress, fatigue, or depression, but it can also be a sign of cognitive impairment. If you or a loved one have difficulty planning or solving problems that affect your daily life, you should see your doctor for a check-up.

Tips

• Break down tasks into more straightforward steps and provide clear and concise instructions or guidance.
• Use calculators, apps, or other tools to help them with numbers or calculations.
• Ask for help, and seek professional advice or assistance if necessary.

Difficulty completing familiar tasks

Another sign of Alzheimer’s disease symptoms and other dementia is difficulty completing familiar tasks. That can affect the ability to perform routine tasks that require concentration or critical thinking, such as:

• Having trouble driving to a familiar location, such as your home, workplace, or doctor’s office.
• Having trouble organizing a grocery list, shopping for items, or putting them away.
• Having trouble remembering the rules of a favorite game, such as chess, cards, or crossword puzzles.

Difficulty completing familiar tasks can be caused by distraction, boredom, or lack of interest, but it can also be a sign of cognitive decline. If you or a loved one have difficulty completing familiar tasks that affect your daily life, you should see your doctor for a check-up.

Tips

• Offer guidance, assistance, or supervision when needed, and avoid taking over or doing things for them.
• Simplify the task or the environment and eliminate unnecessary or confusing items or distractions.
• Find alternative ways to do public transportation, online shopping, or simpler games.

Confusion with time or place

Another sign of Dementia symptoms is confusion with time or place. That can affect the perception of time and space, such as:

• Losing track of dates, seasons, or the passage of time, such as not knowing what day of the week it is, what month it is, or what year it is.
• They may forget where they are or how they got there, such as not recognizing their surroundings, home, or location.
• Having trouble understanding or remembering events that are not happening in the present, such as not recalling recent or past events or confusing past and present.

Confusion with time or place can be caused by stress, anxiety, or fatigue, but it can also be a sign of cognitive impairment. If you or a loved one is confused about a time or place that affects your daily life, you should see your doctor for a check-up.

Tips

• Use clocks, calendars, or photos to orient them to the current date, time, or place.
• Keep a consistent routine or schedule for daily tasks and activities, and remind them of what they are doing or have done.
• Avoid changes or unfamiliar places that may confuse or disorient them, and provide cues or directions if needed.

Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships

Another sign of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia is trouble understanding graphical images and spatial relationships. That can affect the vision and the ability to judge distance, color, or contrast, such as:

• Having difficulty reading, writing, or recognizing words, letters, or numbers, such as mixing up or skipping words, letters, or numbers, or having trouble with spelling or grammar.
• Having difficulty driving, parking, or navigating, such as misjudging the distance or speed of other vehicles, hitting the curb or other objects, or getting lost or confused.
• Having difficulty recognizing faces or objects, such as not knowing who someone is, what something is, or what something is used for.

Eye problems, such as cataracts, glaucoma, or macular degeneration, can cause trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. Still, it can also be a sign of cognitive decline. If you or a loved one have trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships that affect your daily life, you should see your doctor for a check-up and an eye exam.

Tips

• Use clear, large, or contrasting fonts, colors, or labels for reading or writing materials, such as books, newspapers, magazines, or signs.
• Ensure adequate lighting and visibility for tasks that require vision, such as driving, cooking, or cleaning, and avoid glare or reflections that may impair vision.
• Use gestures, pictures, or objects to aid communication or recognition, such as pointing, showing, or demonstrating what you mean or want.

New problems with words in speaking or writing

Another sign of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia is new problems with words in speaking or writing. That can affect language and communication skills, such as:

• Having trouble following or joining a conversation, such as losing the train of thought, drifting off-topic, or needing help understanding what others say.
• Stopping in the middle of a sentence or having difficulty finding the right word or name, such as using the wrong word, making up words, or calling things by a bad name.
• Repeating themselves or repeating the same thing repeatedly, such as telling the same story, asking the same question, or making the same comment.

New problems with words in speaking or writing can be caused by stress, emotion, or fatigue, but they can also be a sign of cognitive impairment. If you or a loved one have new problems with words in speaking or writing that affect your daily life, you should see your doctor for a check-up.

Tips

• Speak slowly and clearly, and use short and simple sentences or questions.
• Use gestures, pictures, or objects to aid communication or understanding, such as pointing, showing, or demonstrating what you mean or want.
• Be patient and supportive, and avoid interrupting, correcting, or arguing with them.

Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps

Another sign of Alzheimer’s disease symptoms and other dementia is misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps. That can affect the memory and the ability to organize or keep track of things, such as:

• Put things in unusual places, such as the remote control in the fridge, the keys in the trash, or the glasses in the oven.
• Losing or forgetting things, such as not remembering where they left something, what they were looking for, or what they were doing.
• Accusing others of stealing, hiding, or moving their things, such as blaming their spouse, children, or caregivers for taking their belongings.

Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps can be caused by distraction, stress, or clutter, but it can also be a sign of cognitive decline. If you or a loved one have misplaced things and cannot retrace steps that affect your daily life, you should see your doctor for a check-up.

Tips

• Keep things in the same place, and label or color-code items frequently used or misplaced.
• Use a GPS or locator to track or find easily lost items, such as wallets, phones, or purses.
• Be calm and supportive, and avoid accusing or arguing with them.

Alzheimer’s Disease Symptoms Decreased Judgment

Another sign of Alzheimer’s disease symptoms is decreased or poor judgment. That can affect the decision-making and reasoning skills, such as:

• Making bad financial or personal choices, such as wasting money, giving money to strangers or scammers, or neglecting their own needs or interests.
• Neglecting personal hygiene or safety, such as wearing dirty or inappropriate clothes, not bathing or grooming, or leaving the stove on or the door unlocked.
• Falling for scams or frauds, such as believing false or misleading claims, giving out personal or financial information, or signing contracts or documents without understanding them.

Decreased or poor judgment can be caused by stress, emotion, or impulsivity, but it can also be a sign of cognitive impairment. If you or a loved one have decreased or poor judgment that affects your daily life, you should see your doctor for a check-up.

Advice

• Monitor their finances and legal or medical affairs and help them manage their money, bills, or documents.
• Provide guidance or reminders for personal hygiene or safety, and ensure they have the necessary supplies or equipment.
• Protect them from potential harm or exploitation, and educate them about the risks or signs of scams or fraud.

Alzheimer’s Disease Symptoms Result in Withdrawal from Social Activities

Another sign of Alzheimer’s disease symptoms is withdrawal from work or social activities. That can affect the mood and the interest in hobbies or activities, such as:

• Losing interest or motivation in work or leisure, such as not enjoying or performing well at their job or quitting or retiring early.
• Avoiding friends or family, declining invitations or calls, such as not wanting to talk to or see anyone, or isolating themselves from others.
• Becoming isolated or depressed, such as feeling sad, lonely, or hopeless or losing their sense of purpose or meaning.

Withdrawal from work or social activities can be caused by stress, fatigue, or embarrassment, but it can also be a sign of cognitive decline. If you or a loved one have withdrawn from work or social activities that affect your daily life, you should see your doctor for a check-up.

Tips

• Please encourage them to stay engaged and active and find activities that suit their abilities and preferences, such as hobbies, games, or exercises.
• Join a support group or a social club and meet people who share similar experiences or interests, such as other people with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia or their caregivers.
• Find activities that give them joy or meaning, such as volunteering, gardening, or music.