What Are Early Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease
A fellow caregiver asked...
What are the early symptoms of Alzheimer's?
Expert Answer
Paula Spencer Scott is the author of Surviving Alzheimer's. A Met Life Foundation Journalists in Aging fellow, she writes extensively about health and caregiving; four of her family members have had dementia.
Memory lapses are often the first sign of Alzheimer's, and they tend to be recognized by family members more than by the person affected.
Recent memory is affected first. The person may forget something they were just told; or they may repeat a comment, question, or even an entire anecdote word for word within a brief period of time. They may miss appointments or be unable to find their car in the parking lot. These behaviors can be subtle and increase gradually over a period of years.
Other classic hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease include confusion over words, changes in personality, trouble with abstract thinking, and misplacing items. See 8 Signs to Watch for if You Suspect Alzheimer's.