When you or someone you love is struggling with memory and thinking, it’s understandable to worry about developing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. So, what are warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease, and how do you differentiate between those signs and ordinary forgetfulness? 

#1: Memory Problems That Interfere with Daily Life

Nearly 40% of people over age 65 have more difficulty remembering than they did when they were younger. Doctors call this “age-related memory loss,” and while it can be frustrating, this kind of memory loss doesn’t significantly affect daily life.

Someone experiencing normal age-related memory loss might forget the name of someone they just met, but they’ll remember it after someone repeats it to them. They might forget a recently booked dentist’s appointment for noon, then get mad at themselves when they remember at 2:30 that they were supposed to go.

Alzheimer’s-related dementia is different. Someone with Alzheimer’s might forget consistently in conversation that the name of the new neighbor is Susan, even after someone reminds them repeatedly. The noon dentist appointment would remain forgotten, even if someone reminded them to go at 11 am.

With Alzheimer's, memory struggles make daily life difficult.

Consult a doctor if someone frequently:

#2: Unusual Difficulty with Everyday Tasks

Everyone needs help remembering how to do new or complicated things. Anyone who’s ever tried to use a new phone or do their own taxes for the first time can attest to that. What’s more worrisome is when someone needs help with a task that they used to do easily on their own. 

Someone with Alzheimer’s often has trouble following a sequence of steps, even if they’ve followed that sequence many times before. They forget what to do next and may not be able to remember what they just did.

For example:

Consult a doctor if someone frequently:

#3: Losing the Ability to Find Misplaced Items

Everyone loses their keys, and a lot of people find that they lose things more often as they get older. For people without Alzheimer’s, though, it’s usually possible to retrace their steps or check the usual places to find them again.

When someone has Alzheimer’s, finding those misplaced objects gets a lot harder. The item isn’t in one of the “usual places” because they’ve put the item somewhere illogical. The keys are in the freezer, for example, or the can opener is in the underwear drawer.

Also, a person with Alzheimer’s disease may not be able to remember where they’ve been that day, so they can’t retrace their steps. Short-term memory loss means that they don’t know they went into the basement to get the laundry, so they don’t find the keys on the washing machine.

Consult a doctor if someone frequently:

#4: Trouble Finding Words and Following Conversations

Just like losing your keys and then finding them again, losing a word and then remembering it is a normal part of life. When someone has Alzheimer’s disease, though, they have much more trouble with language, and it’s more noticeable. The words they forget are simpler and they might replace them with unusual descriptors.

For example:

A person with Alzheimer’s is also more likely to lose track of a conversation while they’re in the middle of it, much like they lose track of a task. They forget what the conversation is about and can’t get back on track when reminded. 

Consult a doctor if someone frequently:

#5: Difficulty with Organizing, Planning and Problem-Solving

Alzheimer’s affects executive function, which is a person’s ability to concentrate, plan and organize thoughts. It’s the ability that lets you work with numbers and follow complicated instructions, both of which can be increasingly difficult for people with Alzheimer’s.

A person who used to easily manage the finances for a household might now have trouble doing so. Someone who used to easily put together furniture in an hour might take an entire weekend to do it.

An important note: it’s more accurate to compare someone to themselves and not to others because everyone’s executive function is different. 

Consult a doctor if someone frequently:

#6: Losing Track of Time and Place

It’s easy for anyone to forget what date or day of the week it is. Don’t worry if you or someone you care about forgets whether it’s Monday or Tuesday, especially if they remember once they’ve checked a calendar. It’s much more worrisome if they lose track of the season or have to be told repeatedly that something is happening tomorrow, not today. 

Concepts like “tomorrow,” “later,” and “in X hours” can be difficult for someone with Alzheimer’s disease. They become disoriented regarding time and sometimes place as well, often not understanding how they got where they are at that moment.

Consult a doctor if someone frequently:

#7: Difficulty with Balance and Navigating Space

It’s normal for people to have more trouble with balance as they get older. Nearly 40% of older adults report struggling more with balance than they used to. When someone has Alzheimer’s disease, though, the difficulty is more dramatic and generally due to vision challenges.

Some people with Alzheimer’s disease have trouble judging distance. This might manifest as balance issues or unusual clumsiness. Someone might trip over or run into things, spill more often or drop things they’re trying to carry. 

Consult a doctor if someone frequently:

#8: Increasingly Poor Judgment

People make questionable decisions from time to time. They buy TVs they can’t afford, eat ice cream for breakfast and go on vacation instead of saving for retirement. Most of the time, they’re aware that they’re doing it.

Poor decisions aren’t usually a sign of Alzheimer’s unless someone is showing bad judgment more often than usual and isn’t aware that they’re doing it. 

Consult a doctor if someone frequently:

#9: Social Withdrawal

When people start having trouble navigating everyday life, they frequently start to withdraw from it. Following conversation becomes a struggle, so they don’t want to go out to dinner with friends or attend church. They forget the rules of poker, so they stop going to their weekly poker game.  If they're still working, they might struggle with attendance.

Whether it’s because the activity itself is too frustrating or they want to avoid embarrassment, the result is an out-of-character withdrawal from activity.

Consult a doctor if someone frequently:

#10: Mood and Personality Changes

Disorientation can also affect the way someone responds to the world. People who love someone with Alzheimer’s often notice that the person becomes depressed, anxious, wary or suspicious of others. These mood changes tend to be most noticeable when the person is functioning outside their normal routine since that’s when confusion and disorientation are most intense.

Keep in mind that the changes you might see go beyond “moodiness.” Someone who’s usually trusting becomes jumpy and mistrustful. Someone who’s usually bold becomes extremely anxious.

Consult a doctor if someone frequently:

Moving Forward with Alzheimer’s in the Picture

If you or someone you love shows Alzheimer’s warning signs, the first thing to do is talk to a doctor. If the diagnosis is Alzheimer’s, it’s time to talk about what the person with the diagnosis wants for the future. What will happen when difficulties get worse?

It can be comforting to know that when someone can no longer live alone, there’s a place like Memory Care at Melody Lane at Havenwood Heritage Heights. Here, people with Alzheimer’s disease live comfortably and safely with access to personalized support when needed. 

If this sounds like a helpful and reassuring concept, come learn more today or complete an online information request. The team would love to tell you more about our supportive, caring community.