Early
Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease:
1. Oversleeping. Middle-aged
people who gradually begin to sleep nine hours or more a night over time — on
average, 13 years — are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s, according to a 2017
study. Lingering in bed may be a
symptom, rather than a cause, however.
2.
Poor sense of smell.
There are dozens of ailments and medications that could interfere with smell,
including the beginnings of dementia. The most common test is called “UPSIT,” although good
tests for sense of smell are not yet available and their value is limited. When
volunteers in their sixties and seventies take the test, low scores can predict who is most
likely to suffer mental decline in the next several years. In another test, having more trouble smelling peanut butter with your
left nostril than your right turned out to predict future Alzheimer’s.
3. Poor balance. If your
mother is shuffling or falls, you might seek out a memory test. A person who can’t stand on one leg for 5 seconds or more is likely to
have more than twice as much memory decline two years later, compared to
someone who can.
4.
Losing weight, unintentionally.
It’s a good idea for people to fight middle-age bulge, since this will help you
fight diabetes, which may be related to Alzheimer’s. However, people who slowly
lose weight after midlife without trying are at risk. Specifically, in one
well-regarded study, 57 percent of men who developed
dementia had lost 11 pounds or more in the six years before their diagnosis,
compared to 35 percent of those who did not develop dementia. In a 2016 study, losing 11 pounds a decade from
midlife to your 70s corresponded to a 24 percent increase in the risk of
cognitive impairment in your seventies.
5. High levels of insulin or
glucose in the blood. There is much evidence that dementia is related to
diabetes or the process leading up to full-fledged diabetes.
6.
Rambling speech. Going
off on tangents may be an early sign of what scientists call “mild
cognitive impairment,” which can lead to Alzheimer's.
7.
Personality changes.
Sometimes a shy or reserved person can become sociable or over talkative.
Dementia affects your judgment, so people may become more impulsive.
8.
Apathy. Dementia
patients may lose interest in their usual activities.
9. Trouble finding words.
“It slipped from my tongue.” As we age, we all have moments when we can’t pull up
names, maybe for people we know slightly, streets, or public figures. But
people with dementia have trouble recalling ordinary words. If these lapses
regularly make it hard for you or a loved one to communicate, ask for a test.
10.
Losing a sense of direction.
People vary a great deal in how easily they can orient themselves in space. But
if you experience a significant drop in your ability to get around in familiar
locations, see a doctor. People with Alzheimer’s can fail to recognize once-familiar
landmarks and forget their normal routes. They also have a harder time
following instructions.
Remember
that no one symptom is proof of a disease. Also, all of these 10 early signs of
Alzheimer’s may not show up in each person. If you see three or more signs,
speak to a doctor and consider buying long-term care insurance or making other changes in
case you or someone you love will need care.
Even
younger people need to know some of these 10 early signs of
Alzheimer’s because the disease can begin as young as the thirties, forties or
fifties. With an early diagnosis and treatment, its progress can be slowed
down. Keep your mind active with word puzzles, challenging games, and reading.
Stay socially engaged. Aim for a minimum of a half hour of exercise five days a
week. Stop smoking and eat more vegetables and fruits and avoid foods that are
crispy from high heat, especially fatty meat.
Reviewed
by Christopher Nystuen, MD, MBA
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