Alzheimer’s disease destroys the brain’s ability to store, form, and maintain memories and think. This brain disorder can eventually make it difficult to handle simple tasks such as counting money, identifying familiar people and places, understanding and even getting dressed. Typically, Alzheimer's forms after age 65 and slowly worsens over time.
However, those with early-onset Alzheimer’s may begin seeing symptoms in their 40s or 50s. Although this form is uncommon, the symptoms progress similarly.
Understanding the Early Signs of Alzheimer's Disease
In the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease, abnormal proteins called amyloid build up to form plaques and tangles in the brain causing healthy neurons to die.
Despite the damage being done, it can take years for someone to start showing symptoms. As the disease worsens, more neurons die, brain tissue begins to shrink, and symptoms of the condition become noticeable.
The damage typically first affects the parts of the brain responsible for forming memories. Sometimes before official Alzheimer’s diagnosis, one can have a disorder known as mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
While this may manifest as memory problems in one person, in others it can present in different ways, such as difficulty gauging distances or writing. However, approximately one-third of people with MCI will progress to Alzheimer’s disease.
The initial signs of Alzheimer’s disease vary from person to person. However, there are some common symptoms that may point to Alzheimer’s.
6 Common Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease
Although Alzheimer's progresses slowly, its symptoms begin to disrupt daily life and make common tasks difficult to handle alone. If any of these symptoms appear in someone you know, it is strongly recommended you or a loved one schedule an appointment with their doctor.
Memory Loss and Confusion
Alzheimer's can affect both long- and short-term memories. It can manifest as repeating the same question, forgetting important dates, or relying heavily on family members to handle everyday tasks and chores. Unlike MCI, memory loss must impact people’s ability to care for themselves.
Not being able to retain information can interfere with the completion of everyday tasks. It may be increasingly difficult for someone to retrace their steps to find an item they may have lost or misplaced. They may also become quickly confused in new situations.
They may forget where they are or how they arrived there, regardless of their familiarity with the location. They may also have trouble understanding distinguishing the past from the present.
Trouble Focusing and Completing Routine Tasks
Multitasking and grasping numbers become increasingly difficult as the disease progresses. In some instances, those with Alzheimer’s disease may completely lose the ability to recognize numbers. This prevents them from performing everyday calculations needed to balance a checkbook or pay bills.
Those living with Alzheimer's may have trouble finishing things they have done countless times before. Mundane tasks such as making a grocery list, getting dressed, or even finding their way home may take longer than normal or become difficult to accomplish alone.
Mood, Personality, and Behavioral Changes
As the disease continues to alter different parts of the brain, the sections responsible for controlling mood will also be impacted. This could lead to those with Alzheimer’s becoming easily upset, increasingly anxious, and/or suspicious of those around them.
In addition to mood changes, those with Alzheimer's may show atypical behaviors such as:
- Wandering
- Acting or speaking inappropriately
- Misplacing items
- Having a hard time falling or staying asleep
- Withdrawing from social groups
- Losing interest in activities
Difficulty Communicating
This can include calling items by the wrong name, having trouble joining or continuing a conversation, or frequently repeating themselves. It may also become increasingly difficult to write legibly due to shaky or indecipherable letters. As their memory begins to worsen, those with Alzheimer's may start to write words phonologically rather than using accurate spelling.
Problems Making Sensible Choices
Those with Alzheimer's have trouble making decisions in everyday scenarios. They may wear shorts in the middle of winter, neglect their personal hygiene, make rash financial decisions, or have difficulty driving. People with Alzheimer’s are especially vulnerable to telephone or internet scams.
Difficulty With Spatial Awareness and Vision
Those with Alzheimer’s struggle to grasp general spatial awareness. This includes difficulty gauging distance and understanding the space an item takes up in a given area. This disconnect makes it dangerous for someone with Alzheimer’s to drive.
It also increases their risk of tripping over items in their home and can contribute to difficulty going up and down staircases.
Become Part of the Solution for Alzheimer's
While it has yet to be discovered how to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, there are some promising strategies that may help prevent or delay symptoms, including:
- Controlling high blood pressure
- Remaining physically active
- Participating in cognitive training
- Maintaining a healthy weight and diet
- Avoiding excessive alcohol consumption and smoking
- Getting adequate sleep, typically 7-8 hours/night
As neurologists continue to study disorders that impact the nervous system, they also diagnose and care for those with Alzheimer’s disease. (Geriatric psychiatrists and neuropsychiatrists are other specialists who diagnose and treat people with Alzheimer’s). Neurologists stand at the forefront of Alzheimer’s research and strive to develop more effective treatments to improve the lives of those with this disease.
For aspiring neurologists, the journey to understand and potentially conquer Alzheimer's disease could be a driving force for their career. Their expertise can do more than help manage and treat patients with Alzheimer's; it can contribute to the larger scientific community's understanding of the disease. The impact these contributions can have in diminishing the burden of Alzheimer's on patients and their families can be immense and deeply fulfilling.
Conclusion
Alzheimer’s disease impacts millions of people around the world, and its effects are devastating for both those diagnosed and their loved ones. As research on this condition continues, it is crucial to educate ourselves and others about the warning signs, symptoms, and potential ways to prevent or delay its onset.
Neurology plays a vital role in understanding and treating Alzheimer's disease, making it an exciting field for aspiring medical professionals to explore. By joining this specialized field of medicine, you have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those affected by Alzheimer's and contribute to the ongoing fight against it.
Ready to take the first step toward becoming a neurologist? Apply to the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine’s Doctor of Medicine (MD) program today!
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