Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurological condition involving complex changes in one’s brain that start at the onset of the disease. The progression of this disorder can adversely affect one’s cognitive and motor functions, interfering with their lifestyle. Alzheimer’s treatment is not available, because as it stands the disease cannot be cured. But knowing what Alzheimer’s symptoms are and identifying these signs early can help, as timely treatment can slow the progression.

Loss of memory
This is the most common early sign of Alzheimer’s disease. However, memory loss can also result from other factors like stress. So it is vital to determine the cause of memory loss in one’s case. The condition generally makes one forget recently learned information, important dates, and people’s names. It may even result in one repeating the same story or question frequently and relying on notebooks or family members to be reminded of things.

Difficulty in solving problems
Another typical Alzheimer’s symptom is the difficulty in solving easy problems or making plans. One might also start to lose the ability to tackle multiple tasks simultaneously. In most cases, the patients forget to pay bills on time or keep track of their finances. In addition, they may find it challenging to hold their focus on a particular activity like cooking an everyday meal.

Challenges in managing regular tasks
With this condition, it may not be easy to manage some simple tasks like organizing a grocery list, making a restaurant reservation, filling out a form, or controlling the TV remote, even during the early stages. It can be concerning if one suddenly begins to ask for help in doing things like these that one had done on their own all their life.

Place and time confusion
It is essential to remember that being bad at directions might not be a sign of the disease, but if it has started recently, one must consult their doctor immediately. Place or time disorientation is one of the 10 early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. This generally manifests in losing track of time and suddenly forgetting the route to one’s home.

Difficulty with visual images
The disease can cause vision problems, leading to the patients having difficulty judging distances, reading, or determining contrast and color. In some cases, the person affected by Alzheimer’s loses the ability to recognize their reflections in the mirror. Another thing that might help identify an early sign is recurrent falls, which happen due to one’s incapacity to determine the space around them.

Inability to understand words
Not being able to recall simple words once in a while is a common phenomenon, but if it’s a frequent occurrence, it can be an Alzheimer’s symptom. In the case of the disease, patients often start to call people and things by the wrong name or become incapable of following conversations. Additionally, they may find it burdensome to grasp movies and books with complex plots.

Losing things
People with the condition often start to lose things or put them in odd places. For example, placing a key or mobile phone in the fridge or the bathroom cupboard might signify an early sign of Alzheimer’s. During these times, the affected people start blaming others for stealing their things because they cannot remember where they placed them.

Poor judgment
This is one of the 10 early signs of Alzheimer’s that can manifest in different forms. The affected people often stop cleaning their houses or ignore personal hygiene and grooming. They may also quickly become victims of cons like telemarketing scams.

Withdrawal from social activities or work
As Alzheimer’s symptoms cause people to forget things, it becomes challenging for them to perform cognitive functions. They might find it difficult to write an email or keep up with dialogue. So, they withdraw from social activities and work because they can no longer interact or perform duties as well as before.

Personality and mood changes
Behavioral changes can be one of the primary signs of the disease, as the condition affects people’s characteristics. If one notices a loved one experiencing mood swings or behaving out of character frequently and consistently due to cognitive and motor dysfunction, it might be time to take them to a doctor.

A clinical cure or treatment for Alzheimer’s is still not available. But a specialized doctor can help manage or delay the condition’s progression. Also, a supportive home environment for the patients can make it easy to live with the condition. Loved ones or a professional caregiver can help the patients by ensuring they avoid tasks that rely on remembering things too much, follow a day-to-day routine, and keep essentials, like spectacles, phones, keys, and wallets, in the same place to avoid misplacing them.