Early Signs of Alzheimer's Disease

Have you ever felt that you are becoming quite forgetful these days? I am quite guilty of that. I would have the urge to say something, but would hold my tongue until the next gap when watching TV with my husband. When the advertisements start to pour, I end up wondering what it was that I wanted to say just a couple of minutes ago.

I am not even 40, but I feel that I am getting more forgetful. I go upstairs to fetch something, just to stop on my tracks trying to figure out what I was actually intending to get. It sorts of worry me. Are these signs of Alzheimer's Disease? Just to appease me and those who are experiencing the same concern, here are a few guidelines to draw the line from mere forgetfulness to early signs of memory loss brought about by Alzheimer's.

1. Memory loss. The loss associated with early Alzheimer's affects short term memory. This means forgetting things that recently happened. The person might forget what they ate an hour ago, or are persistently misplacing everyday objects like eye glasses or keys. The person might even put these items in unusual places, like the refrigerator.

It is normal if a person just forgets names or appointments occasionally. It is not unusual also if a person would have trouble trying to recall where he has parked the car, or what he wanted to get in the kitchen. It may be a normal part of aging.

2. Problems with language. For those with early Alzheimer's, there is an inability to think of the word for common terms. The person no longer knows what the object is called and has to come up with a word that sounds like the word or has a similar meaning for the object. The word spoon might be forgotten, so the person would refer to it as "that thing for eating". Because of substituting with unusual words, speech and writing becomes hard to understand.

On the other hand, it is normal for a person to say that he has the word at the tip of his tongue. He may not remember the exact term, and is just having a problem finding the right word.

3. Difficulty learning new things and making new memories. The person has a shorter attention span, and may have unusual difficulty performing complex mental tasks. The person may repeatedly ask questions about a task, and may have difficulty in thinking logically. For instance, the person may forget to pay for an item in the store several times , and may even ask what numbers are for and how they should be used

To find it challenging to balance a checkbook is still normal. The person might just be having some trouble with too many figures representing his expenses, his savings and the like.

4. Being unable to perform simple everyday tasks. This is another symptom of mild Alzheimer's. The person may take longer to do routine things, and would become agitated if rushed. Dressing inappropriately becomes common as well. The person would choose clothes not right for the weather or the occasion. The person becomes disoriented to time and place as well. Even if he is so used to a routine or to a place, he might experience difficulty in finding his way in a familiar place. Sleep patterns can become disturbed.

It is still normal to forget the day of the week, especially if you have not checked the date for a couple of days. But once you have check the calendar, you don't get lost again. There are instances also when you seem clueless to where you are going. This may be because it is the first time for you to go to that place. You may experience it also if a place has changed their lay-out or the way items were previously arranged, like in a store. Furthermore, from time to time, it is normal to make questionable decisions. People make choices, and there are instances when our judgment fails us, and we do not make sound decisions.

5. Changes in behavior and personality. The person with Alzheimer's starts to have significant behavioral and personality changes. He begins to loss his zest for life and the things that he used to enjoy. He seems to lack energy and spontaneity.He becomes extremely confused, suspicious. The individual may experience a loss of inhibition like undressing in public or making inappropriate remarks. Sometimes, he either fears a family member, or becomes too dependent on them. Also present are rapid mood swings for no apparent reason.

In comparison, a normal person may occasionally feel fearful, sad or moody, but these emotional changes are due to very significant events like one's health, sudden changes in his life, or even the loss of a job or a loved one. Because of age, some changes occur in one's personality as well. One might want to be more adventurous for a change. Or a person who feels like he needs more peace in his life may go for quiet activities, thus appearing more serene and peaceful. Also it is normal for people to feel quite weary of work or other social obligations from time to time.