Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease that causes the brain cells to waste away and die. While Alzheimer’s typically occurs in people over 65 years of age, there are a few people who get diagnosed in their 40s and 50s. This is known as early onset Alzheimer’s disease.
An early indication of Alzheimer's disease could be forgetting recent events. This makes Alzheimer's quite hard to discover in its early stages. But as the disease progresses further, people suffering from it will experience severe memory impairment with some people even experiencing dementia.
While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, early detection can help you slow the decline rate of the brain function and prolong independence for a long time.
Here are the 5 early signs of Alzheimer’s disease
The most common symptom associated with Alzheimer’s disease is memory loss. If you find yourself or someone you love constantly forgetting important events and dates, then it could be due to early onset AD. At this stage, it’s imperative you get them checked up by a medical professional.
Another common symptom in AD is the inability to determine time and place. People suffering from AD will often believe that they are living in the past. For example, a person suffering from Alzheimer’s disease in 2020 may believe he is actually living in 1990.
These events occur frequently and people suffering from AD also often find themselves at a particular place with no recollection of how they got there.
Since people suffering from AD have memory loss, it’s quite common for them to forget what they were going to say in due course of a conversation. This could also result in them constantly repeating questions and phrases.
They may also forget certain words within their vocabulary which makes conversing with others very difficult.
People suffering from Alzheimer’s will find it very hard to complete routine everyday tasks. They will struggle to drive to a familiar location or remember what groceries to buy. This is largely due to memory loss.
So, if you or someone you love gets lost while driving to a well-known location, it could be due to Alzheimer’s.
Since people with AD have a hard time remembering events and holding a conversation, they often withdraw themselves from social events or activities. This is due to the fact they struggle to keep up with ongoing social events.
If you find yourself or someone you love experiencing one of the above 5 signs of Alzheimer’s disease, then please consult a medical professional immediately. As mentioned earlier, early detection can help slow the progression rate of this disease.
