Alzheimer’s Disease may be one of the cruelest diseases because a sufferer seemingly “disappears” until the person they were — no longer exists. National Alzheimer’s Disease Month, each November, reminds us that over 5 million Americans suffer. Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), a form of dementia, impacts memory, thinking, and behavior. AD ranks as the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. and the most common form of dementia in 60-80% of all diagnosed cases.
This list is designed to show examples of how signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s and other dementias may differ from normal aging. It is not a complete list of signs and symptoms.
First Signs of Alzheimer’s or Other Dementias
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- Forgetting recently learned information
- Forgetting important dates/events
- Asking the same questions over and over
- Needing to use memory aids such as notes or electronic devices
Difficulty planning or solving problems
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- May have problems following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills
- Difficulty concentrating
- Taking much longer to do familiar tasks
Difficulty completing routine tasks
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- Finding it hard to do daily tasks, such as making a grocery list
- Trouble driving to a familiar place
- Difficulty remembering rules of a favorite game
Confusion with time or place
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- May lose track of dates, seasons, and the passage of time
- Trouble understanding something if it is not happening right away
- Forgetting where you are or how you got there
Decreased or poor judgment
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- May experience changes in decision-making, such as having poor judgment when dealing with money or paying less attention to personal grooming
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- May have problems following a conversation
- May have problems with vocabulary, finding the right word, or calling things by the wrong name
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- May sometimes put things in unusual places
- May lose things and can’t go back to find them
- May accuse people of stealing things they can’t find
Withdrawing from work or social activities
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- May stop doing hobbies, social activities, work projects, or sports
Mood and personality changes
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- Changes in mood and personality
- May become confused, anxious, and depressed or upset at home or work, with friends, and in places where they don’t feel comfortable
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