No one wants to imagine that they or someone they love will develop Alzheimer’s disease, but it is a reality for many people all over the world. It’s important to learn as much as you can about the early symptoms that are connected to the disease, as early treatment can make a meaningful difference in overall quality of life. Still, it’s hard to seek treatment if you aren’t sure what to look out for. If you want to educate yourself, keep reading to find out more about the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
What are the early symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease?
It’s important that you understand what Alzheimer’s disease is and how it works in order to understand the symptom progression you can expect when you or a loved one receives an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Alzheimer’s is a progressive neurological disease that causes the brain to shrink and cells to atrophy. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, which is marked by a continuous decline in cognitive, behavioral, and social skills. Understanding the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease can help you ensure that treatment can begin as soon as possible.
There are several early symptoms of Alzheimer’s that you should keep an eye out for. Memory loss is often one of the first symptoms to appear. This typically involves things like forgetting conversations, misplacing things, and forgetting important recent events. You may also notice difficulty with performing tasks that should be familiar, like preparing meals, making telephone calls, or the rules of their favorite games. There’s also likely to be disorientation, with symptoms like forgetting how to drive home or not knowing the current time or date.
As the disease progresses, poor judgment will start to set in. This can cause patients to wear clothing that isn’t appropriate for the weather or fall for telemarketing scams and lose large amounts of money. Complex tasks, like balancing checkbooks, will become increasingly difficult. Mood and behavioral changes can occur, as can significant changes in personality and demeanor. These symptoms will worsen over time, and individuals will eventually need help with even the most basic essential tasks.
How can you help a loved one with Alzheimer’s?
There are a lot of things you can do to improve your loved one’s quality of life after they’ve been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Millions of people live with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States, as it’s the most common form of dementia. Although there isn’t a cure, there are many drugs and therapies that can help to slow disease progression and manage symptoms. You can be extremely helpful to your loved one by ensuring they receive the medical care they need by helping them get to their doctor’s appointments or arranging for home care when necessary.
There are also other things you can do to create a more welcoming environment at home for Alzheimer’s patients. Keeping objects that are familiar around the house, like keepsakes and family photos, can help during the early stages of cognitive decline. Having a routine can also be extremely helpful for those living with Alzheimer’s disease. You should take the person’s likes and dislikes and preferences regarding what time they sleep and wake up into account when designing this daily routine.
Alzheimer’s is a complex disease that has a wide range of symptoms. Disease progression can vary from patient to patient, but there are many common warning signs that should tell you when it’s time to seek the advice of a medical professional. There’s a lot you can do to help your loved one, and there are medications that can help slow the progression of symptoms. Eventually, you may need to invest in home care, but it’s worth doing everything you can to help individuals with Alzheimer’s have dignified and fulfilling lives, even in the later stages of the disease.
