Signs Of Early Onset Alzheimer’s That Is Often Overlooked

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the leading ailments among older adults, with approximately 5 million older Americans having Alzheimer’s, a condition that appears in one’s later decades. A rarer version of the disease, known as early onset Alzheimer’s, may make itself known at a much younger age, and typically starts to appear between the ages of 45 and 64. Apparently, many individuals who currently suffer from the disease have improved their lives with the help of memory care communities, such as Senior Sanctuary of Anthem- an award-winning assisted living Anthem facility.

For those concerned about the possibility of developing early onset, observing your loved ones is a wise step. Keep your eyes and ears open, and if you see something amiss with your loved ones, seek medical advice. You need to be persistent with your concerns because many medical professionals are not specially trained in spotting early signs of Alzheimer’s.

If you are concerned about yours or a loved one’s cognitive health at a younger age, here are some signs of the disease that usually go unnoticed among family members:

Not Being Able To Keep Track Of Time– Watch closely how well your loved one keeps track of time, whether or not they are able to remember important dates, are able to distinguish a change in seasons, etc.

Repeated Inquiry About Current Events– We aren’t talking about the current event in news, it is mainly in reference to events that just happened to them. If your loved one starts asking a lot of questions about events pertaining to them, they may be having difficulty with short-term memory. This is a warning sign, often brushed aside by citing the excuse of “old age.”

Mood Swings– No one can judge your loved one better than you as you know him the best, so you’ll also be able to determine if any of their actions seem out of place. Talking about Alzheimer’s, mood swings and agitation are some of the most overlooked symptoms. If you notice there is a sudden change in character (i.e. not behaving within one’s natural personality) in your loved one, then it is best to fix an appointment to have them examined by their physician until it’s too late.

Poor Decision-Making– Having poor judgment with money, such as giving their money away or subscribing to unnecessary things, or poor life decisions in older adults tend to be result of Alzheimer’s or other types of memory care issues. Monitor their bank account if any of the previous signs have started to spring up in your loved one’s life.

Struggling With Conversations– Much like other memory loss issues, your loved one with Alzheimer’s will start facing challenges with vocabulary, such as forgetting common words, calling things by the wrong name, not being able to join or follow a conversation, repeating phrases or words.

Problems With Day-To-Day Tasks– People afflicted with Alzheimer’s face massive trouble performing daily tasks, such as dressing themselves, cooking for themselves, bathing, paying bill on time, etc.

Last, but not the least, social withdrawal is another overlooked sign of onset Alzheimer’s.