Symptoms
The early symptoms of Alzheimers disease (AD) may be overlooked because they resemble signs of natural aging. Still, older adults who begin to notice a persistent mild memory loss of recent events may have a condition called mild cognitive impairment (MCI). MCI is now believed to be a significant sign of early-stage Alzheimer's in older people. Studies now suggest that older individuals who experience such mild memory abnormalities convert to Alzheimer's disease at a rate of about 10% to 15% per year.
Early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include the following:
- Forgetfulness.
- Loss of concentration.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Motor problems, including mild difficulties in walking.
- Incontinence
- Changes in sexuality;
- Psychiatric symptoms (depression, apathy, irritability). Such symptoms occur in about half of patients, and in most cases they occur very early on.
Between 40% and 60% of patients with late-onset Alzheimer's disease suffer from psychotic symptoms, which may include hallucinations, delusions, and dramatic verbal, emotional or physical outbursts. This is a severe form of Alzheimer's disease, possibly with a genetic basis, that has a more rapid and aggressive course.
It should be noted that many medical and psychological conditions can produce Alzheimer-like symptoms. About 20% of suspected Alzheimers cases, in fact, turn out to be some other disorder, half of which are potentially treatable or controllable.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN NORMAL SIGNS OF AGING AND DEMENTIA
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NORMAL
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DEMENTIA
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Early Signs of Alzheimer's Disease
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Memory and Concentration
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Periodic minor memory lapses or forgetfulness of part of an experience.
Occasional lapses in attention or lapses in attention or concentration.
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Misplacement of important items.
Confusion about how to perform simple tasks.
Trouble with simple arithmetic problems.
Difficulty making routine decisions.
Confusion about month or season.
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Mood and Behavior
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Temporary sadness or anxiety based on appropriate and specific cause.
Changing interests.
Increasingly cautious behavior.
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Unpredictable mood changes.
Increasing loss of outside interests.
Depression, anger, or confusion in response to change.
Denial of symptoms.
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Later Signs of Alzheimer's Disease
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Language and Speech.
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Unimpaired language skills.
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Difficulty completing sentences or finding the right words.
Inability to understand the meaning of words.
Reduced and/or irrelevant conversation.
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Movement/ Coordination
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Increasing caution in movement.
Slower reaction times.
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Visibly impaired movement or coordination, including slowing of movements, halting gait, and reduced sense of balance.
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Other Symptoms
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Normal sense of smell. No abnormal weight changes in either men or women.
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Impaired sense of smell. Severe weight loss, particularly in female patients.
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Source of most of the data: Alzheimer's Disease: Early Warning Signs and Diagnostic Resources. The Junior League of NYC, Inc, 1988
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