Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, according to Helpguide.org, affecting over 26 million people worldwide. Understanding the early warning signs and symptoms is critical to early diagnosis. With proper medical attention, the quality of life for both the person with Alzheimer's and the caretaker can be greatly improved.
Confusion
Confusion with regards to time and location is often an early sign of Alzheimer's disease, according to the Washington University at St. Louis's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. Examples include a person who leaves home and forgets where he is or where he is going, forgets what he is doing mid-task or missing a regularly scheduled appointment. Confusion when it comes to abstract thinking or issues requiring judgement are also an early warning sign. Examples of this behavior can include dressing as if it is summer in the middle of winter or difficulty performing basic math calculations when balancing a checkbook.
Short-Term Memory Loss
Short-term memory loss, or forgetting recent memories, can hinder the ability to complete daily and routine tasks. It is a symptom often mistaken for other conditions when in fact it may be attributable to Alhzeimer's. Examples include forgetting a familiar name or phone number or even a recent conversation. The inability to retrieve words while speaking, or substituting incorrect words that make a sentence incoherent, are also examples. This memory loss can extend to include forgetfulness when it comes to daily tasks like cooking and cleaning. People with short-term memory loss will often misplace items or place them where they don't belong (i.e. putting the car keys in the microwave).
Mood Swings
Extreme mood swings or sharp changes in personality are another early sign of early Alzheimer's, according to the University of Washington at St. Louis Alzheimer's Research website. Examples of this sort of behavior might be a loved one who has always been trusting but suddenly becomes suspicious and even fearful or irritable. Others may lose their desire to participate in activities that were once their favorite. Still others may become passive when participating or completely disinterested and choose to not participate at all.
