Early signs of Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, a serious brain disorder that impacts daily living through memory loss and cognitive changes. Although not all memory loss indicates Alzheimer’s disease, one in ten people over 65 years of age, and over half of those over 85 have Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, 26 million people worldwide have this dementia, and over 15 million Americans will be affected by the year 2050.
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease usually develop slowly and gradually worsen over time, progressing from mild forgetfulness to widespread brain impairment. Chemical and structural changes in the brain slowly destroy the ability to create, remember, learn, reason, and relate to others. As critical cells die, drastic personality loss occurs and body systems fail.
Who is at risk of Alzheimer’s disease?
The primary risk factors of Alzheimer’s are age, family history, and genetics. However, there are other risk factors that you can influence. Maintaining a healthy heart and avoiding high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and High cholesterol can decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s. Watch your weight, avoid tobacco and excess alcohol, stay socially connected, and exercise both your body and mind.
Early-onset Alzheimer’s affects patients under the age of 65. This relatively rare condition is seen more often in patients whose parents or grandparents developed Alzheimer’s disease at a young age, and is generally associated with three specific gene mutations (the APP gene found on chromosome 21, the PSI gene on chromosome 12, and the PS2 gene on chromosome 1).
Memory loss that disrupts daily life may be a symptom of Alzheimer’s, a fatal brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. There are 10 warning signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Every individual may experience one or more of these signs in different degrees. If you notice any of them, please see a doctor.
1. Memory changes that disrupt daily life. One of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s, especially
in the early stages, is forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or
events; asking for the same information over and over; relying on memory aides (e.g., reminder notes or
electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own. What’s typical?
Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems. Some people may experience changes in their
ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar
recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do
things than they did before. What’s typical? Making occasional errors when balancing a checkbook.
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure. People with Alzheimer’s
often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes, people may have trouble driving to a familiar
location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game. What’s typical?
Occasionally needing help to use the settings on a microwave or to record a television show.
Early diagnosis for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
US scientists have developed a biosensor that could detect the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) by measuring low concentrations of protein aggregates in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
Neurodegenerative diseases are challenging to diagnose in the early stages as they have similar symptoms. However, on a cellular level, aggregates of the proteins beta-amyloid and alpha-synuclein have been linked to AD and PD, respectively, and so have been suggested as good biomarkers for each disease. ‘Pre-symptomatic diagnosis is a problem,’ says lead researcher Shalini Prasad from the University of Texas at Dallas. ‘Current diagnostic tests don’t have the level of sensitivity and selectivity to detect protein binding. Our goal was to see if we could do both at ultra-low concentrations.’
The biosensor is made up of a printed circuit board overlaid with a porous alumina membrane. The team attached nanobodies (antibody fragments that are specific either for alpha-synuclein aggregates or beta-amyloid aggregates) inside the membrane’s pores. When they added CSF to the sensor, the aggregates bound to their specific nanobodies, causing a change in capacitance that was proportional to the aggregates’ concentration. Using their sensor, the team measured aggregate levels in CSF samples from people with autopsy-confirmed AD, PD and control samples with no neurodegenerative disease. They found that the sensor could distinguish between the samples based on the protein aggregates present, suggesting that it has potential in the early diagnosis of these diseases.
4. Confusion with time or place. People with Alzheimer’s can lose track of dates, seasons and the
passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately.
Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there. What’s typical? Getting confused
about the day of the week but figuring it out later.
5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. For some people, having vision
problems is a sign of Alzheimer’s. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining
color or contrast. In terms of perception, they may pass a mirror and think someone else is in the room.
They may not recognize their own reflection. What’s typical? Vision changes related to cataracts.
6. New problems with words in speaking or writing. People with Alzheimer’s may have trouble
following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to
continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the
right word or call things by the wrong name (e.g., calling a “watch” a “hand-clock”). What’s typical?
Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.
7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps. A person with Alzheimer’s disease
may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find
them again. Sometimes, they may accuse others of stealing. This may occur more frequently over time.
What’s typical? Misplacing things from time to time, such as a pair of glasses or the remote control.
8. Decreased or poor judgment. People with Alzheimer’s may experience changes in judgment or
decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money, giving large
amounts to telemarketers. They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean. What’s
typical? Making a bad decision once in a while.
9. Withdrawal from work or social activities. A person with Alzheimer’s may start to remove
themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may have trouble keeping up with
a favorite sports team or remembering how to complete a favorite hobby. They may also avoid being social
because of the changes they have experienced. What’s typical? Sometimes feeling weary of work,
family and social obligations.
10. Changes in mood and personality. The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer’s can
change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset
at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone. What’s typical?
Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted.
If you have questions about any of these warning signs, the Alzheimer’s Association recommends
consulting a physician. Early diagnosis provides the best opportunities for treatment, support and
future planning.
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Alzheimer’s Association