Clinical syndromes develop in late-stage Alzheimer’s disease. These include things like aphasia (difficulty with language), agnosia (trouble recognizing objects) and apraxia (difficulty carrying out visual/spatial movements).
Alzheimer's Disease Warning Signs & Symptoms
Early signs of Alzheimer's disease include forgetfulness and trouble finding words, but this also occurs with normal aging. What distinguishes the person with early Alzheimer's disease is development of new psychological symptoms. Energy and engagement in every day life may diminish. These symptoms can become so severe that they may interfere with the ability to carry out more difficult tasks, such as handling finances or driving a car. Knowing the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease can help you or a loved one identify whether or not you are at risk and put you on the right path to treatment.
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Dr. Richard S. Isaacson, MD , Neurology, answered
The at-home SAGE Test is pretty effective when it comes to detecting early stage Alzheimer's symptoms. In this video, neurologist Richard Isaacson, MD, explains why it's important to bring the results to a doctor for further testing and screening.
Find out more about this DVD:
How Effective Is the At-Home SAGE Test at Predicting Alzheimer's Symptoms?
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In moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease, people may develop frank amnesia, where they completely forgetting a conversation. People with later-stage Alzheimer's might go out to movie and the next day not remember going to the movie or not be able to tell you the name of the movie or describe the plot. They will have further problems with language, to the point where they have trouble holding a conversation.
Psychological or behavioral symptoms also start to become more pronounced or more evolved into a difficult state of agitation or wandering. There may even be trouble with incontinence. At this point -- moderate to severe Alzheimer's -- even simple tasks become difficult. -
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answeredSee All 3 AnswersSymptoms of Alzheimer's start out with forgetfulness (usually spotted when a person cannot remember the way home when in the neighborhood). A person may lose short-term memory-often telling you a story from their past multiple times in 15 minutes.
It then progresses to the point in which the person forgets major recent events (such as a presidential election) or recent things about themselves (such as a birthday celebration). Sadly, the person will continue to become more disoriented and confused until they can't remember their family members' names or faces, or their own.
Even in advanced stages, however, many people with Alzheimer's will still be able to remember remote events because long-term memory is the last to disappear. -
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HealthyWomen answeredSee All 2 AnswersAlzheimer's disease—the most common form of dementia in older people—is a degenerative disease of the brain initially characterized by gradual loss of short-term memory and then increasing difficulty performing simple, routine tasks. It starts in one part of the brain and gradually invades other regions. As it progresses, Alzheimer's destroys nerve cells within the brain and the connections between them, leaving behind clumps of proteins called plaques and twisted fibers in brain cells called tangles. Over time, this destruction erodes the most vital abilities of human nature: language, learning, memory and reason.
The disease progresses at different speeds for every individual, but eventually most people experience disorientation and personality and behavior changes. Communicating with others becomes difficult, and the ability to stay focused and follow directions becomes more challenging. Ultimately, people with Alzheimer's require more and more assistance with activities of daily living and eventually become entirely dependent on others.
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Scripps Health answeredSee All 5 AnswersThese 10 warning signs from the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org) may help determine if the problem is simply forgetfulness or something more serious:- Memory loss that disrupts daily life. Forgetting where we left our keys or why we walked into a room is common. However, consistently forgetting important dates, events or recently learned information is not.
- Challenges in planning or solving problems. When paying bills, planning a get-together or making a grocery list become challenging, professional attention may be warranted.
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, work or leisure. If common activities, such as picking up the kids from school or planning a meeting agenda at work, seem to become more difficult or confusing, take note.
- Confusion over time or place. People with Alzheimer's may have trouble remembering dates and times. They may be unable to remember what day of the week it is, when something happened or how they got where they are.
- Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer's. Many of us experience vision changes as we get older, but they can be corrected with reading glasses or cataract surgery. People with Alzheimer’s, however, may have problems judging distance, color and spatial relationships.
- New problems with words in speaking or writing. People with Alzheimer's may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may use the wrong words, get “stuck” in a conversation or repeat themselves.
- Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things where they don’t belong or be unable to find things they have misplaced.
- Decreased or poor judgment. People with Alzheimer's may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. They may have problems with spending or pay less attention to their appearance or personal care.
- Withdrawal from work or social activities. Hobbies, get-togethers, work projects or sports may become too challenging or require too much effort for people with Alzheimer’s; as a result, they may become less social and more withdrawn.
- Changes in mood and personality. People with Alzheimer's may seem confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset, especially when they are outside their comfort zone.
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See All 8 AnswersAlzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, and memory impairment is the key feature and most often the earliest manifestation as a symptom of Alzheimer's disease. The initial complaints are usually short-term memory problems. Initial complaints also often involve language dysfunction -- difficulty finding words. Other cognitive deficits and changes in personality and behavior appear with or after the development of memory impairment. -
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Personality and behavior changes are common over the course of Alzheimer's disease (AD) or dementia. Your loved one may:
- Get upset, worried and angry more easily
- Act depressed or not interested in things
- Hide things or believe other people are hiding things
- Imagine things that aren't there
- Pace a lot of the time
- Exhibit unusual sexual behavior
- Hit you or other people
- Misunderstand what he or she sees or hears
- Stop caring about how he or she looks, stop bathing, and want to wear the same clothes every day
Some of the most difficult aspects of caring for someone with AD or dementia are the changes in behavior or personality. It can be frightening to see your loved one become paranoid or aggressive. Working with your healthcare practitioner to get appropriate medication and assistance in coping with these behaviors is important.
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See All 4 AnswersIt is challenging, even for some medical professionals, to distinguish between the benign cognitive changes of normal aging and early dementia. Normal aging can cause slower information processing and retrieval. That means it may take a bit longer to remember someone’s name or where you parked your car. While age-related cognitive changes may mimic Alzheimer’s, the difference is the degree and frequency. Occasional forgetfulness is normal. However, misplacing items frequently or forgetting names of people you see regularly may be signs of early dementia. If the memory difficulties affect your work or social life, it is a good idea to see a doctor for a professional diagnosis.
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RealAge answeredAs Alzheimer's disease (AD) progresses, deficits in memory, language, and reasoning become more noticeable. Changes in personality and behavior become more extreme. At this point, a person may begin to endanger themselves or others.
Symptoms of moderate AD may include the following:
- Difficulty identifying familiar people, places, or things
- Restlessness
- Sleep disturbances
- Poor judgment or difficulty with reasoning
- Aggression or agitation
- Inappropriate behavior
- Increased difficulty with everyday activities
- Losing touch with reality
- Suspiciousness or paranoia
- Hallucinations