Dementia: The main early warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease everyone must know

Dementia is the term used to describe different brain disorders that trigger a loss of brain function. This can cause a wide range of symptoms related to poor brain performance. Sixty-two per cent of people with dementia have Alzheimer’s disease, making it by the far the most common type of the condition. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s are wide-ranging and worsen over time, but one main early symptom of the disease is memory loss.

For most people with Alzheimer’s, the earliest symptoms are memory lapses

Alzheimer’s Society

According to Alzheimer’s Society, memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease relates to loss of memory of recent events.

A person may have difficulty recalling things that happened recently, or learning new information.

This may lead them to mislay items around the house or forget conversations or, events, appointments or a person’s name.

They may also struggle to find the right word in conversation or lose the thread of what is being said.

In addition, in the early stage of Alzheimer’s, people may get lost in a familiar place or on a familiar journey.

Sometimes symptoms like this can be attributed to normal ageing, but they are not necessarily normal and should be checked out.

“Alzheimer’s disease usually begins with very minor changes in the person’s abilities or behaviour that are often attributed to normal ageing,” said Alzheimer’s Society.

“For most people with Alzheimer’s, the earliest symptoms are memory lapses.”

According to Alzheimer’s Society, these symptoms occur because the early damage caused by the disease is usually to a part of the brain called the hippocampus, which has a central role in day-to-day memory.

Memory of life events that happened a long time ago is often unaffected in the early stages of the disease.

In the early stages of dementia, a person’s symptoms will be noticeable and will affect their day-to-day life.

Signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s

There are more than 520,000 people in the UK with Alzheimer’s disease. Here are 10 early signs and symptoms including memory loss and problem-solving to look out for.

Changes in mood and personality – If you notice a loved one become easily upset, confused, depressed or anxious they could be suffering from Alzheimer’s so talk to them and book an appointment with the doctor

However, someone in the early stages of dementia will be fairly independent and should be able to do most things with a little help.

As the condition progresses, symptoms then start to worsen, making it difficulty for people to do things unaided.

People with Alzheimer’s may go on to develop problems with other aspects of thinking, reasoning, perception or communication.

Other common early symptoms of Alzheimer’s include changes in mood, leading to feelings of anxiety and depression.

Many people become withdrawn and lose interest in activities and hobbies, and may become irritable.

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