{"id":2129,"date":"2018-06-13T05:07:41","date_gmt":"2018-06-13T05:07:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/besthealth.guide\/?p=2129"},"modified":"2021-10-11T07:48:31","modified_gmt":"2021-10-11T07:48:31","slug":"12-warning-early-signs-of-alzheimers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/12-warning-early-signs-of-alzheimers\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Warning Early Signs of Alzheimer’s"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Alzheimer’s is a disease that can change the life of not only its patients but also those around them. It\u2019s commonly believed to be synonymous with dementia but is actually just one of its types.<\/p>\n

The disease itself starts out slowly, and then rapidly deteriorates a person from the inside out. It may even prove to be fatal. The first things to go, however, are the cognitive functions and memories of a usually elderly individual. The AD then goes on to affect physical functions and create many more complications. In fact, many patients may pass away from these physical issues rather than Alzheimer’s itself.<\/p>\n

As with many illnesses, recognizing AD early on can help one prepare for it. The treatments for improving an AD patient\u2019s care and slow their progression would also work better when applied as soon as possible. The following early symptoms would let you know what to look out for.<\/p>\n

1. Short-Term Forgetfulness<\/h3>\n

While the old memories could stay entrenched for a long time, AD patients could forget current-day events quite easily. It may start off as something simple and understandable, like forgetting to meet a friend or to attend their regular social sessions.<\/p>\n

We all expect our elders and ourselves to become more forgetful as time progresses. However, we must keep an eye out for when that memory loss starts affecting the quality of life in general. An elderly person without Alzheimer’s<\/a> wouldn\u2019t totally forget the appointment but remember it later on. With AD, though, the realization may not even come too easily or at all until they\u2019re reminded by an outside source.<\/p>\n

Another symptom of forgetfulness in the short term is when someone starts relying on electronic reminders, notes, or other tools to help them remember certain important dates, appointments, and events. AD patients would also usually start asking repetitive questions right from the early stages. \"\"<\/p>\n

2. Not Understanding Instructions<\/h3>\n

While we may not think we follow written instructions every day, we do it more often than many realize. For instance, your grandmother may be an expert in following any recipe and even have created some of her own. If she starts messing up her famous shortbread and other dishes, this is definitely something to worry about.<\/p>\n

Instructions in a recipe book or a manual for installing a piece of furniture are usually detailed guidelines on how to solve a specific problem. This is where the cognitive<\/a> functioning of AD patients fails even in the very early stages of this disease.<\/p>\n

Following known instructions would also be an issue in the first phase of AD. Paying bills, filing taxes, and other financial tasks may suddenly seem overwhelming and almost impossible for a person in such cases. They may also be too proud to seek outside help.\"\"<\/p>\n

3. Changes in Behavior and Personality<\/h3>\n

As a child grows into an adult, his or her personality seems many landmark changes. Our personality and behavior<\/a> may go through several changes based on our nature and the life experiences we undergo. However, the process of personality change may continue in a deteriorative manner if someone is afflicted with Alzheimer’s Disease.<\/p>\n

One of the first telling AD signs is that a person starts to act differently. These are not just changes in habit, like preferring a vase on the other side of the room. These are changes in their temperament, general mood, or disposition that their close circle has grown to know. These personality shifts may also be threatening signs of depression as the once-social AD patient withdraws into themselves.<\/p>\n

There may also be unusual habits exhibited which wouldn\u2019t be normal in any person. This could include wandering off, insulting and swearing at those around them, etc.\"\"<\/p>\n

4. Communication Issues<\/h3>\n

Losing and twisting vocabulary is usually the first noticeable sign of Alzheimer’s disease. This could make it harder and harder for us to understand just what AD patients are trying to say. If the diagnosis hasn\u2019t yet been made, both parties could be highly confused at this turn of events.<\/p>\n

The confusion would start as small slips of the tongue which might be explained away as human mistakes. For instance, someone in the early stages of AD may say \u2018dell\u2019 instead of \u2018desk\u2019 without realizing it. However, the language issue soon translates into more glaring instances, such as trying to say a certain word, and having it come out as something else.<\/p>\n

The confusing conversations could slowly lead to AD patients no wanting to talk at all. They may go further into their isolation<\/a> and eventually end up not having an idea of what to say at all. \"\"<\/p>\n

5. Stowing Away Items<\/h3>\n

One of the most noticeable behavioral changes<\/a> in the early phases of AD is the growing habit of stowing away apparently \u2018valuable\u2019 items. This could be a little bit of cash hidden under their mattress or just some everyday items they pick up around the house, such as a flashlight or pen.<\/p>\n

This is sort of a magpie effect, which probably stems from the patient’s fear that they\u2019re losing control of their own lives. Hiding or hoarding items, whether they\u2019re of value or not, would help them feel like they\u2019re doing something to manage their situation.<\/p>\n

Another reason for hiding away stuff is their fear that others may try to steal from them. They may suspect the house help, their live-in attendant, or even their own family members. It\u2019s only to be expected that they also forget what they hid or where. \"\"<\/p>\n

6. Vision Problems<\/h3>\n

Since AD patients<\/a> are usually elderly, their sight might be going naturally in any case. However, a non-AD patient should still be able to judge the distance of certain things or the passage of time. When AD strikes, however, this cognitive function is among the first to go.<\/p>\n

The loss of this skill could be frustrating, time-consuming, and even quite dangerous. Someone with undiagnosed AD may be driving a car along a once-familiar route and forget where they have to turn or brake. This could cause them to get lost at best and result in an accident at worse. In this manner, they could put several lives in danger, including their own.<\/p>\n

Other unfortunate symptoms of this visual-spatial weakness include an AD patient losing focus in reading, not being able to work out the words. They may not be able to discern one color from the other, which again leads to a lot of risks. \"\"<\/p>\n

7. Difficulty in Making Decisions<\/h3>\n

The elders of many families usually have several wise decisions under their belts. If they become AD patients, however, their choices may start off as unusual and end up as being completely nonsensical.<\/p>\n

As mentioned before, finances could be tough for someone struggling with AD. However, the earliest symptoms may also involve a lack of trust in certain companies without any reason. For instance, an elderly parent may start resisting payment to the water company, claiming that they\u2019re poisoning the water<\/a>. Needless to say, this could be quite a difficult situation and even end up in utilities being cut off if the patient has his way.<\/p>\n

One very strange early symptom here is the AD patient’s vulnerability to salespeople. Many such folks have been known to donate a lot of money simply because a telemarketer asked them to. They may also become overly generous with door-to-door salespeople. \"\"<\/p>\n

8. Problems With Hygiene<\/h3>\n

We may notice an elderly person letting their appearance go at times. This could be quite a distressing AD signal, especially if the person in question was usually extremely careful of his or her grooming. We may start seeing them in the same shirt for days at a time, or their hair remaining unbrushed, dirty, and even teeming with lice.<\/p>\n

Other slips of personal hygiene<\/a> include neglecting to brush their teeth, wash up before or after meals, and not care about their soiled clothing. The fingernails may grow long and dirty without the patient noticing. As the disease progresses, any attempts to clean them up would also be met with a lot of resistance.<\/p>\n

Since this is quite a sensitive issue, this may be the point where a person with AD is no longer able to live alone. A trained attendant is usually the best option since it\u2019s not recommended to change their surroundings. \"\"<\/p>\n

9. Skipping Meals<\/h3>\n

Alzheimer’s Disease could also take away appetite in the very beginning, or perhaps double it. AD patients may start skipping meals and not being aware that they were supposed to eat. If they don\u2019t have someone around to remind them about eating, they could get very weak due to malnourishment<\/a>. Blood sugar or diabetes patients could suffer a lot from such carelessness.<\/p>\n

Even if they do sit down for a meal, some AD patients may not be interested in eating at all. They may focus on only one kind of food, or put their food on someone else\u2019s plate.
\nOn the other hand, some AD patients could simply forget that they\u2019ve just eaten and start upon a whole new meal.<\/p>\n

Again, this could be dangerous for their digestive systems, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. What\u2019s even riskier is that they may take multiple doses of their medication as well. \"\"<\/p>\n

10. Planning Issues<\/h3>\n

Everyone knows that time is passing; they make plans, schedules, and timetables in order to get the most out of each day. We plan for certain events and remember them, along with calculating how much time remains for us to do whatever\u2019s needed.<\/p>\n

An AD patient, even in the early stages, wouldn\u2019t function this way. They would simply forget even the most important events and not even be able to think about something scheduled for the future. Until and unless they make little notes and set reminders, AD patients may not be able to remember what a certain day is. This could prove to be embarrassing for them and emotionally<\/a> painful for their loved ones.<\/p>\n

In fact, a patient with AD can set off on a certain goal, and then completely forget about what they were supposed to do when they get to their destination. If something isn\u2019t happening right now, it\u2019s a problem keeping it in mind. <\/p>\n

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11. Illogical Fear<\/h3>\n

As mentioned above, AD patients may suspect even their nearest and dearest of stealing from them. This sort of suspicion and paranoia<\/a> is another signal which should alert us to early Alzheimer’s. Stealing is just the beginning; after some time, such patients may also think that someone’s trying to hurt, poison, or kill them in some manner.<\/p>\n

The suspicions aren\u2019t just located in their minds, but also scare AD patients with outright hallucinations. They may hence see their nurse pointing a gun at them even if it\u2019s just a pencil in reality. Their senses would become unreliable, causing them to hear sounds that didn\u2019t occur and even taste a flavor that they aren\u2019t consuming at the moment.<\/p>\n

The hallucinations may not all be negative, though. AD patients might see an old colleague, friend, or family member and start talking to them. In some cases, the person in question may already have passed away.<\/p>\n

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\n12. Isolation and Withdrawal<\/h3>\n

With all the fear and confusion surrounding AD patients, it shouldn\u2019t come as a surprise when they start withdrawing from society in general. Even if they\u2019re home most of the time, they might not like to interact with their own family in case they say something wrong. Added to this is the possibility that they might have unwarranted suspicions about other people.<\/p>\n

The socializing may also taper off when the AD patient becomes less mobile due to not being able to drive. Since they get lost en route to gatherings, they and their families wouldn\u2019t want to risk their leaving the safety of their home. This would obviously place a damper on even the most active of social lives.
\nThe loss of motor skills,<\/a> cognitive function, and memories create a highly isolated life. It is hence imperative that the ones close to the patient take extra care of them.\r\n

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