Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking, and reasoning skills. Unfortunately, too many people are unaware of the warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease. This can lead to a delay in treatment. If Alzheimer’s disease is treated earlier, a neurologist can help the affected have a better quality of life. At Silver State Neurology, we are a Las Vegas neurology clinic devoted to helping our patients achieve a better quality of life. We provide Alzheimer’s disease treatment in Las Vegas for our senior patients. It is among our top 5 diagnoses at Silver State Neurology.
Every person may experience one or more of these signs in a different degree. One symptom alone does not necessarily indicate that a person has Alzheimer’s disease. However, if you start noticing more than one symptom of Alzheimer’s disease from the list below, don’t ignore them. Please see a doctor. Contact us to make an appointment at Silver State Neurology. Our Las Vegas neurologist, Dr. Christopher Milford, is well-equipped to help you manage your Alzheimer’s disease symptoms. Please see the list of insurances we accept and learn what to expect when seeing a neurologist. Visit our Facebook page to learn more about the conditions that we treat. The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America unites more than 2,600 member organizations nationwide in the goal of providing optimal care and services to individuals living with dementia and to their families and caregivers.
Disruptive Memory Loss & Alzheimer’s disease
One of the most common early signs of Alzheimer’s disease is memory loss. Mild forgetfulness can be a normal part of aging. Having trouble remembering something then remembering it later is not a serious memory problem. People with Alzheimer’s disease, however, often forget information that they recently learned. They may forget things one day and remember it the next. It is typically inconsistent. This memory loss can become disruptive to daily life. They may lose track of important names, dates, or events. Sometimes they forget where they are or how they got there. They often ask for the same information over and over. At some point, this Alzheimer’s disease symptom will force a person to rely heavily on memory aids such as multiple notes or electronic reminders. Even doing things that were once familiar can become difficult. An ordinary task at work can become impossible.
Poor Judgment
Making an occasional bad decision is a mark of being human. It is not a sign of Alzheimer’s disease. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may show signs of changes in judgment that lead to consistently bad decision-making. The earliest changes in judgment usually involve money. People who were normally very cautious with their finances start spending money in unusual ways. This is why older people are often targets of phone scams. They may use poor judgment that ends with them sending large amounts of money to a scammer. A lack of proper judgment may also cause a person to neglect grooming or cleanliness. A person with Alzheimer’s disease might shower less often or dress inappropriately for the weather. They may even wear the same clothes for several days in a row. It is important for family members to take notice of these kinds of behavior. They may help a person get treated for Alzheimer’s disease earlier.
Mood and Personality Changes
Being irritable about a disruption in routine or habit is a normal reaction for most people, young or old. A characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease is a volatile change in mood and personality. This is a notable Alzheimer’s disease symptom. If this is unlike a person’s normal behavior, consult a doctor. Someone with Alzheimer’s disease may suddenly become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful, or anxious. Being out of their comfort zone may cause them to become easily upset. Even in familiar situations at work or with family and friends, a person with Alzheimer’s disease may have mood swings that seem sudden. They may move around constantly, pace, or become fixated on specific details. It is important to pay attention to increased anxiety or aggression, especially if a person is starting to notice their own forgetfulness.
Social or Work Withdrawal
People sometimes feel weary of work or social activities. A worrisome sign of Alzheimer’s disease is when a person starts to remove themselves from hobbies or activities that used to make them happiest. Alzheimer’s disease can cause a person to completely forget how to do something that was once their favorite hobby. It may become difficult for them to keep up with their work or social obligations. Because of the changes they are experiencing, a person with Alzheimer’s disease might start to withdraw. They may avoid being social altogether. There can be a growing sense of indifference even in very early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Research shows that indifference among people with mild cognitive impairment may predict a progression to developing Alzheimer’s.
Losing Things
It is not uncommon to misplace things from time to time. Most people are able to retrace their steps and remember where they left an item even as they are aging. A person with Alzheimer’s disease, however, may put things in unusual places. For instance, they might place their car keys in the refrigerator and forget that they did that. It might be the remote control in a sock drawer. This results in them losing things and being unable to find them again. They simply can’t retrace their steps. As the disease progresses, this may occur more often. They may even become suspicious and accuse others of stealing or hiding their belongings.