Scientists continue to unravel the complex brain changes involved in the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
It seems likely that damage to the brain starts a decade or more before memory and other cognitive problems appear.
During this preclinical stage of Alzheimer’s disease, people seem to be symptom-free, but toxic changes are taking place in the brain.
Damage occurring in the brain of someone with Alzheimer’s disease begins to show itself in very early clinical signs and symptoms.
For most people with Alzheimer’s—those who have the late-onset variety—symptoms first appear in their mid-60s. Signs of early-onset Alzheimer’s begin between a person’s 30s and mid-60s.
The first symptoms of Alzheimer’s vary from person to person. Memory problems are typically one of the first signs of cognitive impairment related to Alzheimer’s disease.
Decline in non-memory aspects of cognition, such as word-finding, vision/spatial issues, and impaired reasoning or judgment, may also signal the very early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
And some people may be diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. As the disease progresses, people experience greater memory loss and other cognitive difficulties.
Alzheimer’s disease progresses in several stages: preclinical, mild (sometimes called early-stage), moderate, and severe (sometimes called late-stage).
Signs of Mild Alzheimer’s Disease
In mild Alzheimer’s disease, a person may seem to be healthy but has more and more trouble making sense of the world around him or her.
The realization that something is wrong often comes gradually to the person and his or her family. Problems can include:
Memory loss
Poor judgment leading to bad decisions
Loss of spontaneity and sense of initiative
Taking longer to complete normal daily tasks
Repeating questions
Trouble handling money and paying bills
Wandering and getting lost
Losing things or misplacing them in odd places
Mood and personality changes
Increased anxiety and/or aggression
Alzheimer’s disease is often diagnosed at this stage.
Signs of Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease
In this stage, more intensive supervision and care become necessary, which can be difficult for many spouses and families. Symptoms may include:
Increased memory loss and confusion
Inability to learn new things
Difficulty with language and problems with reading, writing, and working with numbers
Difficulty organizing thoughts and thinking logically
Shortened attention span
Problems coping with new situations
Difficulty carrying out multistep tasks, such as getting dressed
Problems recognizing family and friends
Hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia
Impulsive behavior such as undressing at inappropriate times or places or using vulgar language
Inappropriate outbursts of anger
Restlessness, agitation, anxiety, tearfulness, wandering—especially in the late afternoon or evening
Repetitive statements or movement, occasional muscle twitches
Signs of Severe Alzheimer’s Disease
People with severe Alzheimer’s cannot communicate and are completely dependent on others for their care.
Near the end, the person may be in bed most or all of the time as the body shuts down. Their symptoms often include:
Inability to communicate
Weight loss
Seizures
Skin infections
Difficulty swallowing
Groaning, moaning, or grunting
Increased sleeping
Loss of bowel and bladder control
A common cause of death for people with Alzheimer’s disease is aspiration pneumonia. This type of pneumonia develops when a person cannot swallow properly and takes food or liquids into the lungs instead of air.
There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, though there are medicines that can treat the symptoms of the disease.
If you care about Alzheimer’s, please read studies that healthy blood vessels may be key to preventing Alzheimer’s disease, and what you should know about extra-virgin olive oil and Alzheimer’s disease.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about how to use a healthy lifestyle to prevent dementia, and results showing COVID-19 may cause Alzheimer’s disease-like dementia.
Source: National Institute of Aging
