Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia, can significantly impact individuals and their families. Knowing how to recognize the signs of Alzheimer’s disease early can lead to timely intervention, which can make a world of difference in managing the condition.
The 10 Signs of Alzheimer’s
1. Memory Loss That Disrupts Daily Life
One of the hallmark symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease is memory loss that affects day-to-day activities. While occasional forgetfulness is a part of normal aging, forgetting recently learned information or asking the same questions repeatedly could be a sign of concern. If your loved one frequently relies on notes or family members to remember things they previously managed on their own, it may be time to speak with a healthcare provider. Unlike typical forgetfulness (like sometimes misplacing keys), Alzheimer’s related memory loss is persistent and worsens over time, even impacting daily activities or personal safety. Examples include regularly forgetting where they live or how to get home, or failing to recall the names of close relatives. Learn more about the 10 Questions to Determine Readiness for Assisted Living.
2. Difficulty Planning or Solving Problems
Alzheimer’s disease can impact a person’s ability to develop or follow a plan. Complex thinking becomes difficult. Tasks that require concentration (balancing a checkbook, following multi-step recipes) become confusing. Unlike occasionally making simple math errors, this sign involves a consistent drop in ability and frequent errors, affecting independence and confidence. You may notice that tasks are left half done or abandoned, cooking becomes confusing, or coordinating schedules becomes difficult. If someone is struggling with numbers, following steps, or solving once routine problems, it could be a warning sign.
3. Challenges with Familiar Tasks
Daily routines that used to be simple, like driving to a familiar location, remembering the rules of a game, or managing medications, may become difficult. These moments can be part of recognizing the sign of Alzheimer’s disease, especially when the challenges become frequent rather than occasional. It’s important to remember that mistakes happen to everyone, but when they occur regularly or last longer than usual, it’s time to pay closer attention. People with Alzheimer’s may need more assistance with routine activities, and it is important to look for these subtle changes.
4. Confusion with Time or Place
Alzheimer’s can cause individuals to frequently lose track of dates, seasons, or the passage of time. They may forget where they are or how they got there, or struggle with understanding something if it isn’t happening immediately. Recognizing the signs when they start to wander is important, as this can lead to becoming lost or potentially being in dangerous situations.
5. Difficulty Understanding Visual Images and Spatial Relationships
Vision changes can be another sign of Alzheimer’s disease. While age-related vision problems, such as cataracts, are common, individuals with Alzheimer’s may experience difficulty with reading, judging distances, or differentiating between colors and contrast. This can limit or make activities such as driving, navigating rooms, or reading difficult or dangerous.
6. Problems with Speaking or Writing
Individuals with Alzheimer’s often find it difficult to follow or join in conversations. They may stop in the middle of a conversation, struggle to find the right word, or repeat themselves. Problems with writing, such as having difficulty organizing thoughts or grammar, can also be signs of cognitive decline. This loss of language skills can make communication frustrating for both the person speaking and those trying to understand them.
7. Misplacing Things and Losing the Ability to Retrace Steps
People living with Alzheimer’s may put items in unusual places and be unable to retrace their steps to find them. This can lead to frustration, as they may accuse others of stealing when they can’t find their belongings. While normal aging involves occasional misplacement of items, individuals are usually able to recall and find items later. Individuals displaying signs of Alzheimer’s will display a more permanent loss of recall abilities.
8. Poor Judgment or Decision-Making
A decline in judgment or decision-making can manifest in various ways, such as making poor financial choices or neglecting personal grooming. Individuals with Alzheimer’s might wear inappropriate clothing for the weather or become overly trusting of strangers. It is important to note that individuals with Alzheimer’s are even more likely to fall victim to scams than other aging adults.
9. Withdrawal from Work or Social Activities
As the disease progresses, people may lose interest in hobbies, social activities, or work. Due to the memory, conversation, and concentration impairments associated with Alzheimer’s, engaging with others in meaningful ways becomes increasingly tricky. They may struggle to keep up with a favorite hobby or sports team and become withdrawn or disengaged from social interaction because it’s too challenging or confusing. With normal aging, it’s common to feel occasionally tired of obligations, but the person generally returns to the activity after a certain point.
10. Changes in Mood or Personality
Mood swings, increased confusion, suspicion, depression, or anxiety are common in individuals with Alzheimer’s. They may become easily upset, particularly when they are out of their comfort zone or placed in unfamiliar environments. Occasional mood swings are a part of life; it is the persistence and escalation of these sudden personality shifts that signal concern.
There has been increased awareness and media attention about this significant health crisis and research continues to uncover more and more information about prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s. While there is still no cure, it is clear that early detection of Alzheimer’s can help slow the progression of the disease and in some cases reduce the effects.
At Dayspring Villa and Christian Living Communities (CLC) we are committed to supporting the Alzheimer’s fight through staff education, fundraising and supporting those who suffer and their families. While the Dayspring Villa Community is not specifically a memory care community, our mission is to support the people who live with us, their families and those who care for our residents that are on a journey with this disease.
Our staff participates in regular training about dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, including about the warning signs of early memory issues. All of the staff at CLC recently participated in a educational workshop, Living Well with Dementia, with guest speaker Mark Timmons, a board member for Dementia Action Alliance, who is living with Dementia. We can help with resources and acuity assessments to determine if someone could benefit from a memory support community.
