Although the most obvious symptom of Alzheimer’s disease is forgetfulness, it is not the first and most suggestive symptom. New research has found that Alzheimer’s disease may begin years before symptoms of cognitive decline can be observed, with no sign of memory loss. Early identification is not just an early start on treatment but offers the optimum long-term planning, adjustment in lifestyle, and even to new therapies for Alzheimer’s disease which arrest progression. This blog talks about less common symptoms of Alzheimer’s, as the existing clinical evidence warrants, with emphasis on symptoms being generally underdetected by caregivers and clinicians alike. This essay further addresses how symptoms are differential to the different forms of Alzheimer’s disease.
Early 7 Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease You Shouldn’t Ignore
- Daily Activity Difficulties
The initial symptom of Alzheimer’s disease is the inability to carry out everyday activities. It is a matter of not being able to follow a recipe, manage bills, or operate a house appliance effectively. It is not just forgetfulness; it is a matter of the executive functions of the brain—sequencing, organization, and planning. A study in the 2023 JAMA Neurology found that individuals who had preclinical Alzheimer’s performed more poorly across the board on tests of problem solving and task management before they had actually developed well-established memory loss. Reversals have been linked to prefrontal cortex degeneration, the part of the brain that has control over decision-making and habits.
- This symptom is also characteristic of all types of Alzheimer’s disease but perhaps particularly so in early-onset Alzheimer’s when there is a more accelerated decline in executive function.
- Language and Communication Changes
Among the first but most commonly overlooked indicators are speech changes. People might start using generic words such as “that thing” to talk about specific things, or they would reprise an awful lot of things over and over again or would take longer to finish what they were saying. They are good but serious signs. The Lancet Neurology magazine (2020) further reported that word-finding difficulty and over-pause were present in individuals who had early-stage disease five years prior to their diagnosis.
- It is also a usual symptom of one form of Alzheimer’s disease, Primary Progressive Aphasia, wherein language skills deteriorate first, and not memory.
- Loss of Smell or Taste
The most prevalent initial sign of Alzheimer’s that typically goes unnoticed is a decrease in the sense of smell or sensitivity to odors. A person may comment that food tastes flat or they are no longer able to smell perfume, coffee, or other typical odors. More likely caused by aging or sinus issue, it could be an initial indication of Alzheimer’s disease. In 2021, scientists at the University of Chicago discovered that patients who performed poorly on smell tests were twice as likely to have developed Alzheimer’s disease in five years. The brain tissue and olfactory bulb that come with it are two of the initial areas affected by beta-amyloid plaque deposition, typical of Alzheimer’s disease pathology.
- Identification of this symptom during an early stage results in prompt intervention and surveillance, and can direct the choice of Alzheimer’s disease treatment programs.
- Personality or Mood Changes
Personality or mood change without any reason might be excessively indicative of early neurological changes. One would become very nervous, suspicious, withdrawn, or irritable easily. In some instances, individuals begin to form habits or irrational phobias. A 2022 University of California San Francisco study found increased anxiety, social withdrawal, and irritability as neuropsychiatric symptoms appearing in more than 30% of patients who eventually developed Alzheimer’s, typically a decade prior to memory decline.
- They are very relevant to step one of diagnosing Alzheimer’s. These symptoms can indicate damage to amygdala and limbic system, which modulate behavior and emotion.
- Visual-Spatial Difficulty
One of the less frequent but more severe presenting signs is a difficulty with judging distance, seeing patterns, or interpreting visual information. This difficulty is different from usual age-related vision problems in that visual information is being interpreted by the brain in an inappropriately incorrect manner. The person would likely stumble over things, fall down flights of stairs, or become lost when one glances into entire rooms. Driving is a monumental problem due to spatial misestimation. A 2019 study in Neurology Today found that early-stage Alzheimer’s patients had extremely high deficits on visual-spatial orientation tests. But had normal vision. The researchers added that these signs. It can be one of the earliest neurocognitive symptoms of Posterior Cortical Atrophy, an uncommon type of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Sleep disturbance changes
Disrupted sleep, disturbance of sleep, impaired maintenance of sleep, or daytime drowsiness can be a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease. These are normally attributed to age or stress but may have their origin in neurodegenerative processes. In 2023, scientists at Harvard Medical School demonstrated that disrupted sleep during REM was associated with increased amyloid-beta protein buildup within the brain. These proteins lie at the core of Alzheimer’s disease. Not only does sleep affect cognitive health, but it may be scrubbing the brain clean of these causative proteins.
- Early detection of sleep disorders might make it possible to target treatment of Alzheimer’s disease that not only improves sleep but also slows its progression.
- Disorientation to Time or Place
And yet another extremely crucial underrecognized symptom is disorientation to date, time, or even a familiar place. A patient can know that it is another day, overestimate the time elapsed since the last visit. Or get lost in a place visited many times. This is a distinct symptom from forgetting to remember a birthday or an appointment. It suggests more serious issues in the brain centers for orienting within space and time. A 2022 Dutch cohort study of over 1000 patients. And found that mildly disoriented on time or place patients had a highly elevated risk of conversion to Alzheimer’s disease within three years. This symptom was strongly associated with changes on the entorhinal cortex on neuroimaging investigations.
- This symptom occurs most classically in Late-Onset Alzheimer’s disease, which is itself the most prevalent type.
Learning about the Types of Alzheimer’s Disease
Awareness of the variations of Alzheimer’s disease is required for correct determination of early symptoms and an educated treatment selection.
- Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease: Most typical in individuals under the age of 65 years, typically with increasingly faster acceleration of symptoms.
- Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease: After age 65 and most prevalent variety.
- Posterior Cortical Atrophy: Affects visual perception and spatial perception in the initial course of illness.
- Primary Progressive Aphasia: Characterized by progressive decline in language with preserved memory in its initial stage.
They all share features of typical Alzheimer’s disease and may react differently to some Alzheimer’s disease treatment.
Evolution in Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment
The strategy has evolved from symptomatic management to disease-modifying treatments over the last few years.
- FDA-Approved Drugs:
Lecanemab (Leqembi) approved in 2023 decreased cognitive worsening by 27% at 18 months in early-stage patients. Donanemab currently in late-stage trials targets the aggregation of tau protein. And has also shown promising results in slowing down the course of the disease.
- Lifestyle-Based Interventions:
The Finnish FINGER trial confirmed that a combination of diet change, exercise. And brain training reduced the risk of Alzheimer’s by up to 30%. Lifestyle modification interventions are especially well worth their price at an early stage in time.
- Breakthrough Diagnoses:
Blood test biomarker diagnostic tests to detect biomarkers like plasma p-tau217 now accurately diagnose Alzheimer’s. With over 90% accuracy—years ahead of when symptoms arise. This is highly promising for prevention and early diagnosis.
Conclusion: What Early Action Can Achieve
Early symptom diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease can significantly improve the quality of the patient’s life. Early detection provides more individualized treatment, planning, and access to new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. It allows for slowing the disease through changes in lifestyle, new medications, and cognitive therapy. Identification of lesser-known symptoms—such as loss of smell, mild mood changes. And confusion about activities—can fill the gap in early recognition as things are now. Though Alzheimer’s disease remains a monolithic worldwide public health problem. Early recognition allows patients, families, and clinicians to respond affirmatively and compassionately.
