Alzheimer’s disease is a dementia condition that affects many adults, especially those ages 65 and older. Alzheimer’s is known for the memory loss, confusion and disorientation it causes. These problems can make daily life difficult. Alzheimer’s progresses over time, and as it advances, symptoms develop and intensify. At first, the signs of the disease may be barely noticeable, especially to those who are not close to the sufferer. By the end, the patient may be unable to communicate with others and may lose touch with reality.
Unfortunately, there are no cures for this disease. However, treatment can improve quality of life and reduce the manifestation of symptoms. It can be difficult to face the idea that your loved one may have Alzheimer’s, but if you suspect a problem, it is important to book a consultation with a physician. The following 10 symptoms are common among people with Alzheimer’s. If you notice some of these signs in your loved one, have him or her evaluated by a doctor.
1. Depression
Alzheimer’s disease and depression often go hand-in-hand. The symptoms of these two conditions can resemble one another, and they can also exacerbate each other. Commonly, depression first begins to develop in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. After that, it can come and go throughout the course of the disease.
When a person feels depressed, he or she may be uninterested in participating in activities, and good eating habits can fall by the wayside. The person may harbor unpleasant emotions, including sadness, loneliness, feelings of worthlessness, and thoughts of suicide. This condition can make people feel extremely tired, but it can also make it hard to get good sleep. It can lead to random aches and other unexplainable physical complaints.
When symptoms are in full force, a person may have trouble focusing and concentrating. Memory lapses can be common. Since these are also standard symptoms of Alzheimer’s, it can be hard to distinguish which conditions are causing which problems. A medical examination with input from both the patient and caregivers can help formulate a plan of treatment for both conditions. Getting treatment for the emotional illness can make it easier for a person to cope with the other changes that come along with dementia.
2. Mental Decline
People who are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s may start to notice that their minds are not working as well as they used to. Forgetfulness is a major symptom, and it’s one of the best-known signs of Alzheimer’s. The memory loss associated with this disease may significantly affect the activities of day-to-day life. However, the mental decline extends beyond just memory loss. People with the disease will also find that they can’t tackle problems or maintain concentration like they used to. Because of this mental decline, familiar tasks around the house or the office—especially ones involving numbers or step-by-step directions—may become hard to carry out.
3. Delusion
As mental decline progresses, a person may develop delusions. These are false beliefs that are not grounded in reality, but to the person who holds them, they feel very real and true. People with delusions may feel that loved ones or strangers are out to get them, and rational explanations from caregivers do not typically shift their thinking. If these thoughts progress, the affected people may be at risk of trying to harm themselves or others. Delusions are usually best treated through adjustments to behavior and routine, but serious cases, especially those that involve threats of harm, may require pharmaceutical interventions.
4. Aggression
The mental decline that comes with Alzheimer’s can rob a person of the ability to clearly articulate needs and feelings. Frustration over the inability to communicate effectively can cause a person to lash out in anger. He or she may lash out with words or with physical actions. To caregivers and loved ones, this aggression may seem to come out of nowhere. However, there is usually a root cause for the behavior, such as frustration, overstimulation or pain. A person exhibiting aggression symptoms should receive a physical examination to rule out an infection that could be contributing to the behavior.
5. Restlessness
People with Alzheimer’s may have a hard time sitting still. Instead, it may seem like they must constantly be in motion. They may prefer to keep their hands busy with activities like ripping paper, or they may prefer to have their feet constantly moving, which can manifest as pacing back and forth. This restlessness is related to the agitation that Alzheimer’s can induce. When a person feels trapped, out of control or anxious, he or she may use movement to try to channel those unpleasant emotions. Because many people with Alzheimer’s experience sleep disturbances, restlessness can be particularly problematic at night.
6. Wandering
Restlessness can go hand-in-hand with another Alzheimer’s symptom: wandering. They may walk off, get lost, and then, have trouble asking for help to get home again. Someone who has access to car keys may drive off instead of walking. People with Alzheimer’s may believe that they need to wander in order to find supplies for meeting their basic needs or that they have somewhere important that they need to be. Although wandering can happen at home or in familiar environments, new or confusing surroundings can contribute to an urge to wander. Therefore, caregivers should take extra precautions when going out with people prone to wandering.
7. Apathy
One of the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s can be that things that were once important to your loved one may not mean as much to him or her anymore. It may seem like the person has just stopped caring about much of anything. The person may seem apathetic about the idea of activity in the outside world, even when that activity relates to interests that were once important to him or her. Loved ones who are experiencing apathy may also develop an indifference toward personal care. For example, it may become apparent that the person is no longer maintaining a regular schedule of bathing, brushing, and changing clothes.
8. Loneliness
The many changes that Alzheimer’s brings can cause a person with the disease to pull away from social outlets. Out of embarrassment, he or she may avoid being around other people and stop participating in once-enjoyed social groups. For many people, their social interactions center around tasks or projects; for example, people make friends through their careers, volunteer interests or hobbies. For people with Alzheimer’s, as their thinking and memory skills slip, they may sense that they no longer belong in those circles, or they may feel that they can no longer contribute, so they must stop their participation. This withdrawal, which is itself fueled by Alzheimer’s side effects, can lead to yet another side effect: loneliness.
9. Mood Swings
A person who was generally even-keeled may seem to develop a whole new personality after the onset of Alzheimer’s. He or she may regularly display signs of anger, confusion, fear, depression, or anxiety. These unpleasant emotions will probably not be constant; rather, they often manifest as mood swings. One day, he may seem like the easygoing person you’ve known for years, and the next, he may be short-tempered, rude, and impossible to please. Although it can be hard to predict the pattern of these shifts, you may notice that these mood swings are most pronounced when the affected person is away from his or her comfort zone.
10. Paranoia
Forgetfulness and confusion can cause a person to become paranoid. People who have recently been introduced–and even familiar faces–can seem like scary strangers. Misplaced items may be thought to have been stolen. The person may not trust advice or instructions that you provide; instead, he or she may believe that you are giving false directions in order to intentionally cause harm. Although it can seem to caregivers that these paranoias are irrational, to the affected person, they are an attempt to make sense of a world that no longer adds up. Furthermore, this paranoia is often associated with delusions; the delusional thoughts can contribute to these irrational fears and beliefs.
