Recognizing Early Signs of Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia

Alzheimer’s disease functions as an advanced, progressive form of dementia that specifically impacts parts of the brain controlling memory, speech, and thought. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s accounts for between 60 and 80 percent of all dementia cases.

Once diagnosed, individuals typically live an average of four to eight years, though some patients survive up to 20 years depending on individual health factors. While thousands of researchers study the origins of the disease, the exact cause remains unknown.

Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies

Age serves as the biggest risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease. Most diagnoses occur in individuals aged 60 or older, though early-onset cases can emerge in a person’s mid-30s. A family history of dementia or Alzheimer’s also elevates risk.

To lower potential risk, medical professionals recommend healthy lifestyle habits. According to Dr. Bruns, a protective lifestyle includes regular physical activity, a balanced and nutritious diet, limited alcohol consumption, and abstaining from smoking.

Ten Early Warning Signs to Monitor

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Alzheimer’s Association identify ten primary behavioral and cognitive changes that indicate potential dementia:

• Memory loss disrupting daily life: Forgetting recently learned information, important dates, or repeating questions frequently, rather than occasionally forgetting names or appointments.
• Challenges in planning or solving problems: Difficulty following a familiar recipe, keeping track of monthly bills, or concentrating on tasks that previously took minimal time.
• Difficulty completing familiar tasks: Trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a grocery list, or remembering the rules of a favorite game.
• Confusion with time or location: Losing track of dates, seasons, and the passage of time, or forgetting where one is and how one arrived there.
• Vision and spatial issues: Trouble reading, judging distances, or determining color and contrast, which can impair driving ability.
• New problems with words in speaking or writing: Stopping mid-conversation without knowing how to continue, repeating phrases, or misnaming familiar objects, such as calling a watch a "hand-clock."
• Misplacing items and losing the ability to retrace steps: Placing objects in unusual locations and occasionally accusing others of stealing.
• Decreased or poor judgment: Making poor financial decisions or paying less attention to personal grooming.

When to Seek Medical Help

When individuals or their family members notice persistent cognitive shifts, medical experts advise scheduling an appointment with your doctor. The Alzheimer’s Association operates a 24/7 helpline at 800-272-3900 to provide free guidance and answer questions.