It's important to identify potential symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in your loved ones as soon as possible, to help ensure quality of life and independent senior living. When visiting your family or friends this holiday season, there are a number of warning signs to look for when trying to decide if someone you care about may be suffering from Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. Here are five common warning signs of Alzheimer's:
1. Forgetting recently learned information
The Alzheimer's Association notes that one of the main warning signs of Alzheimer's is when memory loss affects daily living. If someone you love seems to regularly forget information they just learned, it may be a symptom of the disease.
2. Putting objects in unusual places
If your loved one has gotten in the habit of misplacing objects and often leaving them in unusual places, it could be a sign of Alzheimer's, especially if the location seems illogical.
"Those with Alzheimer's may experience feelings of depression, anxiety, social withdrawal, irritability, distrust or loss of inhibitions."
3. Social withdrawal or other changes in mood
The Mayo Clinic points out that Alzheimer's disease causes brain changes that may alter the way a person acts or feels. According to the source, those with Alzheimer's may experience feelings of depression, anxiety, social withdrawal, irritability, distrust or loss of inhibitions.
4. Forgetting appointments or other arrangements
People with Alzheimer's may struggle to keep track of meeting times and places or forget days and dates. In some cases, the person with Alzheimer's may forget how or when they arrived at a specific location or get lost in a familiar place.
5. Trouble with spatial relationships
Problems with vision may be a sign of Alzheimer's disease as well. Take note if your loved one appears to have difficulty driving, judging distance or identifying colors.
Skip to content