According to the Alzheimer’s Society, there are over 850,000 with Alzheimer’s disease (DA), and although it mostly affects adults 65 and above, over 42,000 under 65 are affected by Alzheimer’s. This means that the average age to get diagnosed is between 40 to 50.
As this disease affects the brain, common symptoms and a decrease in memory, thinking and vision. The decline is typically slow, these symptoms do not tend to happen immediately, but this can vary for each individual.
What are the early signs of Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer’s is a common form of dementia. Dementia is commonly known for memory loss and restriction. It may not seem obvious, but you or a loved one may be showing early signs of Alzheimer’s if you are experiencing any of the following:
Memory Loss
You or your loved one may appear to be more forgetful, such as forgetting important dates, recent conversations. Slight memory loss or absent-mindedness tends to happen naturally in old age but persistent or more glaring issues are worth checking out. If you notice questions being repeated continuously and you or someone else requires frequent reminders, seeing your doctor is advised.
Vision Loss
It’s not the most common, but vision problems can occur with Alzheimer’s. This can be a subtle as an increased difficulty when reading, problems judging distance and a change in contrast.
Problems With Speaking or Writing
People with Alzheimer’s may have trouble joining or following a conversation. Common signs of this are them stopping midway in conversation and not knowing how to continue, repeating themselves or forgetting what they were originally talking about.
They may also have a problem naming common objects different names or not being able to think of the correct word (e.g. calling a “watch” a “hand clock”).
Misplacing Items
It may be difficult to notice people losing their belongings because some people relate this to clumsiness, but misplacing items or putting them in unusual places can be a common symptom of Alzheimer’s.
This can also be a mixture of another symptom of Alzheimer’s, memory loss. It can also be difficult to retrace your steps of any lost items, making situations very stressful.
Uncertainty Of Time Or Place
People dealing with Alzheimer’s can easily lose track of time, dates and places. They can sometimes become very impatient if something isn’t happening immediately, they may forget where they are, what they’re doing or how they got there.
As symptoms progress, people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s will become increasingly forgetful and not be aware of where they are which can cause high levels of stress and anxiety.
Difficulty Making Decisions
You or a loved one may be finding it harder to make financial or important choices, which demonstrates poor judgement. Examples can be donating a large amount of money to charities or spending high amounts without taking their own financial stability into consideration.
Personal hygiene can also become an issue. People with Alzheimer’s may lack the willingness to change clothes regularly or notice a decline in the frequency of showering/bathing.
Difficulty Completing Day-To-Day Tasks
People with Alzheimer’s can often struggle to complete day-to-day tasks, such as driving to a regular location, organising a shopping list or remembering their daily routine.
If you or a loved one struggles to perform regular tasks, often has a hard time making lists or forgetting a daily routine, this may be a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease.
If you or a loved one is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and are looking for some in-home care services, or just general help, then contact Sova Healthcare today.
Our team of experienced and qualified caregivers can offer compassionate home care, domiciliary care and assisted living. With offices in Birmingham, Leicester, Harrogate and Bradford, we can provide home care services across the West Midlands, East Midlands and Yorkshire Regions. Find out how Sova Healthcare can help you today!