Symptoms Alzheimer's Disease

1. Serious Memory Loss

Forgetfulness is a normal part of aging and results in fragmentation of conversations and experiences, but serious memory loss such as losing track of time, whole events, and inconsistent recollection may be symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease. There is no clear indicator that separates dementia from mild interruptions in memory, but consistency and severity may be indicators that it is a result of AD.

2. Frequent Mood Swings

Everyone becomes agitated in response to troubling events which can be caused by fear, insecurity, confusion, or lack of rest, but more frequent mood swings, and more severe, tend to occur in persons with dementia. Often, due to other related symptoms such as degraded function and memory, rapid changes in mood may signal the existence of Alzheimer's Disease.

3. Poor Judgment

Often, persons with Alzheimer's Disease begin to exhibit poor judgment in regard to common activities such as finance, hygiene, and even general safety. These occurrences may include frivolous spending, failing to properly dress, or putting themselves in dangerous situations. Increased risky activities and impaired judgment may signal the onset of dementia.

4. Financial Difficulty

Most of us miss a payment occasionally, or forget to balance the checkbook, but frequent miscalculations, poor spending, and serious financial difficulty can be a sign of the onset or Alzheimer's disease in aging individuals. This can be so pervasive that the recognition and understanding of numbers themselves can occur.

5. Trouble With Common Activities

For the person who spent most of their lives baking pies to forget how to mix ingredients, use the oven, or experience other trouble with common activities this may be a sign of dementia. Many people need reminders of ingredient and shopping lists, but persons with Alzheimer's Disease may forget how to crack an egg, or find the corner store.

6. Impaired Reasoning

Incomplete or impaired reasoning, logic, problem solving, and planning can represent the existence of Alzheimer's Disease. All individuals are likely to struggle with complex problems, however, persons with dementia may find themselves challenged with common planning like budgets, shopping, and directions.

7. Misplaced Objects

Persons affected by Alzheimer's Disease often forget the location of, or misplace items like car keys, glasses, or wallets. Many times these items turn up in strange spots like drawers and cabinets that are not commonly used for such things. These misplaced objects can cause the individual to feel that someone has hidden or stolen them leading to frustration and suspicion.

8. Disorientation

A common symptom of dementia is disorientation in relation to time and place such as incorrectly judging the length of a trip, visit, or even dates and seasons. This loss of orientation can be frustrating for both the individual and loved ones. It is not unheard of for a person to forget where they are, how long they have been there, or when they last saw someone.

9. Communication Breakdown

Communication breakdown is a common symptom associated with Alzheimer's Disease. In mid conversation, the individual may have trouble coming up with the correct word or phrase, and as a substitute may interject incorrect or even inappropriate responses. These responses may include noises, gestures, or even other languages.

10. Tendency to Wander

Persons with dementia have a tendency to wander or get lost which can lead to potentially harmful situations. Typically, this is something like heading out of the house to go home, going to a job they haven't worked at in years, or even finding the bathroom by exiting the building. This is extremely common among individuals with Alzheimer's Disease and though most often without incident, this disorienting experience may have negative results.

11. Repetitive Behavior

Repetition is a common symptom of Alzheimer's Disease prevalent in both speech and action. It is assumed that this repetitive behavior is in response to discomfort, anxiety, or boredom. Those suffering from dementia may find a sense of security in familiar words and actions.

12. Vision Problems

Dementia can affect vision in a variety of ways including clarity, perception of distance, color, or even boundaries of where shapes start and end. Instances such as having difficulty reading, difficulty navigating while walking, or even misinterpreting a reflection as another individual are likely signs of Alzheimer's Disease.

13. Unproductive Activity

Many individuals afflicted with Alzheimer's Disease participate in unproductive activities such as emptying and refilling drawers, closets, or cupboards. These can manifest themselves in various ways, but it is assumed that this seemingly unproductive activity fulfills a need to be busy or useful.

14. Withdrawal and Isolation

Individuals with dementia tend to withdraw from family, friends, and society as a whole particularly as the progression becomes deeper. This can be due to general anxiety, shame, or even a developing apathy. Isolation is a common response even in relation to long enjoyed activities.

15. Degraded Motor Skills

Symptoms such as degraded motor skills are likely to indicate that an individual is suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. This can affect activities like buttoning shirts, writing, or using kitchen utensils. Significant changes like trembling, weakness, or loss of sensation are common, but may be signs of other conditions as well like Parkinson's.

16. Poor Dietary Habits

As dementia progresses, individuals may exhibit poor dietary habits such as not eating, eating too frequently, or forgetting how to chew, swallow, or sense temperature. Often, these behaviors can be attributed to a loss of appetite or caused by loss of memory. Even a person's favorite food can seem foreign and unappealing.

17. Questionable Behavior

It is not uncommon for persons with Alzheimer's Disease to exhibit inappropriate or questionable behavior such as the removal of clothes, flirting, unfiltered language, or even touching. These signs represent unrestricted impulses as inhibitions diminish and socially accepted behaviors are forgotten.

18. Emotional Outbursts

More common as dementia progresses are uncontrolled emotional outbursts from feelings of fear, anger, or suspicion. These can manifest themselves verbally or even physically and can have a significant affect on the people closest to those with Alzheimer's Disease. Many times, these expressions are seemingly unprovoked and difficult to deescalate.

19. Disrupted Sleep

Interruption of regular sleep patterns is normal for persons with dementia and can lead to poor rest, wandering, and frustration. These changes occur as a result of a decreased need for rest, changes in biological functioning, and as a response to emotional challenges. One of the main reasons for extended care is due to the challenges presented by these disrupted sleep patterns.

20. Regressive Behavior

In later stages of Alzheimer's Disease the presence of regressive or childlike behavior is quite common. This may be exhibited by a person becoming more clingy, needy, or even fearful. When this occurs, the person may constantly seek attention and company to combat these concerns.