What are the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease?

Although symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease can vary widely, the first problem many people notice is forgetfulness severe enough to affect their ability to function at home or at work, or to enjoy lifelong hobbies. Other symptoms include confusion, getting lost in familiar places, misplacing things and trouble with language. The list below details some of the common signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease:

This text is based on information from the University of California San Francisco Medical Center

• Abstract Thinking – Balancing a chequebook may be hard when the task is more complicated than usual. Someone with Alzheimer’s disease, however, might forget what the numbers are and what needs to be done with them
• Disorientation – It’s normal to forget the day of the week or where you are going, but people with Alzheimer’s disease can become lost on the street where they live, forget where they are and how they got there, and not know how to get back home
• Initiative – People often tire of housework, business activities or social obligations at times. However, a person with Alzheimer’s disease may become excessively passive, sitting in front of the television for hours, sleeping more than usual or not doing usual activities
• Judgment – No one has perfect judgment all the time, but those with Alzheimer’s disease may dress without regard to the weather, for instance wearing several shirts on a warm day. Individuals with dementia often show poor judgment about money, giving away large amounts to telemarketers or paying for repairs or products they don’t need.
• Language – All of us have trouble finding the right word from time to time, but people with Alzheimer’s disease often forget simple words or substitute unusual words, making their speech or writing hard to understand. If a person with Alzheimer’s disease is unable to find a toothbrush, for example, they may ask for “that thing for my mouth”
• Misplacing Items – Anyone can temporarily misplace a wallet or key. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places: an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl
• Mood Changes – Everyone can become sad or moody from time to time. However, someone with Alzheimer’s disease can show rapid mood swings (from calm to tears to anger) for no apparent reason
• Personality – Personalities ordinarily change somewhat with age but a person with Alzheimer’s disease may have a severe personality change, becoming extremely confused, suspicious, fearful or dependent on a family member