smiling grandfather looking over his shoulder at his granddaughter

Here’s a startling fact – according to the Alzheimer’s Association, in 2021, an estimated 6.2 million Americans age 65 and older were living with Alzheimer’s Disease. Nearly half of all caregivers (48%) who provide help to older adults do so for someone with Alzheimer’s or another dementia.1

If you’re a family caregiver, you know how difficult it is to care for someone with this debilitating disease. You feel may feel chronically worried, stressed, and exhausted.

Ultimately, the time may come that you’re no longer able to care for your loved one because they need assistance around the clock.

At Koru Health, a number of our senior living communities offer memory care services. We provide safe and thoughtfully designed homes for those who find themselves in need of memory support.

When it comes to Alzheimer’s Disease, early detection is crucial. Before we dive deeper into the early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s, let’s take a better look at this disease.

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s Disease is a disorder of the brain that destroys memory, everyday thinking, and reasoning skills. The disease generally affects adults aged 65 and older and it occurs in stages, slowly over time.2

In the early stages, memory loss is usually mild but diminishes gradually over time. In the late stages, it takes away the person’s ability to perform the simplest daily tasks, hold a conversation with others, and respond to their environment.

The gradual memory loss is due to irreversible changes that happen in the brain.

Think of brain cells as operators of tiny factories. They work together to process and store information and communicate with other brain cells. Large amounts of fuel and oxygen are needed to keep all systems running smoothly.

Scientists aren’t exactly sure where the trouble starts, but they believe that Alzheimer’s prevents certain parts of a cell’s factory from running well.

And – just as in a normal factory – if one part isn’t working properly, it’s a domino effect that trickles over to other parts.

If cells aren’t able to do their jobs, they break down over time.

Plaques and tangles are the two prime suspects that damage and kill nerve cells. It’s pretty common for most adults to develop plaques and tangles as they age.

But here’s where the difference comes in – Alzheimer’s patients have a much higher number of plaques and tangles. They also tend to develop in a predictable pattern – beginning in the memory area and then spreading to other areas of the brain.3

When it comes to Alzheimer’s, early detection and diagnosis are critical. This will give the patient – and their caregivers – the greatest chance of having the best health outcome.

Here are some early warning signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s that should never be ignored.

10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s

Loss of Memory Disrupting Daily Life

Forgetting information that was recently learned is one of the most common early signs of Alzheimer’s. If your loved one asks the same questions repetitively, forgets important dates, or needs to rely on reminder notes to perform daily tasks, these could be signs of Alzheimer’s.

What’s a common age-related change? Forgetting a name or special date, but remembering it later.

Planning or Solving Problems Causes Challenges

Some people may experience difficulty remembering a recipe they have known their entire life. Others may find it challenging to work with numbers, balance their checkbook, or have a harder time concentrating on things they used to do easily before.

What’s a common age-related change? Making occasional errors when paying a monthly household bill.

Completing Familiar Tasks at Home, Work, or for Leisure Becomes Difficult

Your loved one may start forgetting the rules of their favorite game. They may not recall how to drive to a previously familiar location. Planning meals for the week and making a grocery list may no longer be an easy task.

What’s a common age-related change? They need help finding a channel on the television every now and then.

Confusing a Time or Place

Days or specific dates may become confusing. Unless an event is happening immediately, your loved one may not be able to comprehend the passing of time, or something happening in the future. Some people may not know where they are or how they got to a certain place.

What’s a common age-related change? Forgetting the day of the week for a few moments but then recalling it.

Visual Image and Spacing Trouble

Vision problems can be an early sign of Alzheimer’s. Spacing between objects on the road can be hard to determine, which can lead to difficulty driving. If poor vision is causing a loss of balance, tripping and falling at home can become more frequent.

What’s a common age-related change? Cataracts in older adults that cause changes in vision.

Speaking or Writing Words Causes New Problems

People with Alzheimer’s may struggle to remember a word for something they’ve known their entire life. For example – if your loved one can’t remember the name for a car, they may refer to it as “the thing that moves on wheels”. They also may have trouble following along with or trying to join a conversation.

What’s a common age-related change? Occasionally having a problem not finding the correct word.

Misplacing Items and Inability to Retrace Steps

Putting an item in an unusual place - such as keys in the refrigerator - is another sign of Alzheimer’s. Your loved one may constantly misplace items and not be able to retrace steps to find them.

What’s a common age-related change? Forgetting where you placed your wallet, but retracing your steps to find it.

Judgment is Decreasing or Becoming Very Poor

Poor decision-making – such as being a victim of a scam or carelessly handling money – is another key sign of early Alzheimer’s. Your loved one may have decreased judgment when it comes to personal hygiene. They may feel they don’t need to bathe anymore. If they have a pet at home, they may no longer realize they need to feed it.

What’s a common age-related change? Making a poor decision, but not frequently.

Withdrawing from Social Activities or Work

Since it can be difficult for a person with Alzheimer’s to engage in a conversation, they may withdraw from activities they previously enjoyed. If your loved one is still able to work, they may avoid going to work functions out of fear of getting embarrassed.

What’s a common age-related change? Sometimes feeling not up to socializing within a group of people.

Shifting Mood or Personality

People living with early Alzheimer’s can have big shifts in their mood or normal personality. They may suddenly become fearful, confused, anxious, suspicious, and act out of their normal character. They may accuse someone of trying to hurt or come after them.

What’s a common age-related change? Getting irritable if their daily routine is disrupted.

What to do if your loved one experiences symptoms

It’s important to know that an individual does not have to experience ALL of these symptoms to show early signs of Alzheimer’s.

If your loved one has any changes in memory, mood, or behavior, it’s vital to speak with their doctor about it as soon as possible.

Even though there has been significant progress in developing and testing new treatments, there is currently no known cure for Alzheimer’s Disease.

Koru Health memory care communities offer your loved one individualized care designed to maximize their physical, social, mental, and emotional abilities. Our specially trained Care Teams make you and your loved one’s health and personal care their highest priority.

References

1https://www.alz.org/news/2021/new-alzheimers-association-report-examines-racial

2https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimers

3https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-alzheimers-disease

https://www.cdc.gov/aging/healthybrain/ten-warning-signs.html

https://www.ncoa.org/article/know-the-10-signs-of-alzheimers-early-detection-matters