Alzheimer’s diseaseis the most common cause of dementia. Dementia is an umbrella term for a decline in cognitive (thinking and memory) skills.According to the Alzheimer’s Association, if you observe any of the 10 warning signs of dementia discussed below, you should contact your doctor. You should consider doing so because:Those symptoms may be a sign of acondition similar to dementiathat could potentially be reversed if treated.There are many benefits of early detection of dementia.This article explores the signs of Alzheimer’s disease to look out for. It also examines the difference between this type of dementia and typical age-related changes.
Alzheimer’s diseaseis the most common cause of dementia. Dementia is an umbrella term for a decline in cognitive (thinking and memory) skills.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, if you observe any of the 10 warning signs of dementia discussed below, you should contact your doctor. You should consider doing so because:
This article explores the signs of Alzheimer’s disease to look out for. It also examines the difference between this type of dementia and typical age-related changes.
1Memory Lossadamkaz / Getty ImagesThe most common warning sign ismemory lossthat interferes with daily life.This includes:Difficulty remembering recent events or informationIncreased need for written notes to recall informationIncreased reliance on family membersRepeated requests for the same informationWhat it’s not:Occasionally forgetting something like where you placed the car keys.While memory loss may be what comes to mind when thinking of Alzheimer’s disease, there are other signs to look out for as well.
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Memory Lossadamkaz / Getty ImagesThe most common warning sign ismemory lossthat interferes with daily life.This includes:Difficulty remembering recent events or informationIncreased need for written notes to recall informationIncreased reliance on family membersRepeated requests for the same informationWhat it’s not:Occasionally forgetting something like where you placed the car keys.While memory loss may be what comes to mind when thinking of Alzheimer’s disease, there are other signs to look out for as well.
Memory Loss
adamkaz / Getty Images
The most common warning sign ismemory lossthat interferes with daily life.This includes:
What it’s not:Occasionally forgetting something like where you placed the car keys.
While memory loss may be what comes to mind when thinking of Alzheimer’s disease, there are other signs to look out for as well.
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Withdrawal From Usual Activities
Jupiterimages / Photolibrary / Getty Images
Apathy, or a lack of interest, and withdrawal from people and activities can be signs of early dementia.
What it’s not:Needing a longer break between activities or sometimes feeling overwhelmed.
3Confusion With Time or PlaceWavebreak / Vetta / Getty ImagesWith Alzheimer’s disease, disorientation is a common symptom. It may include:Not knowing what season or year it isNot knowing your locationNot understanding why you’re in a certain locationAs Alzheimer’s progresses, some may believe they are younger than they really are because of an unawareness of time passing.What it’s not:Wondering what the date is and checking the calendar.What ‘Alert and Oriented’ Means With Dementia
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Confusion With Time or PlaceWavebreak / Vetta / Getty ImagesWith Alzheimer’s disease, disorientation is a common symptom. It may include:Not knowing what season or year it isNot knowing your locationNot understanding why you’re in a certain locationAs Alzheimer’s progresses, some may believe they are younger than they really are because of an unawareness of time passing.What it’s not:Wondering what the date is and checking the calendar.What ‘Alert and Oriented’ Means With Dementia
Confusion With Time or Place
Wavebreak / Vetta / Getty Images
With Alzheimer’s disease, disorientation is a common symptom. It may include:
As Alzheimer’s progresses, some may believe they are younger than they really are because of an unawareness of time passing.
What it’s not:Wondering what the date is and checking the calendar.
What ‘Alert and Oriented’ Means With Dementia
4Visual-Spatial Difficultieskali9 E+ / Getty ImagesVisual-spatial changes are another warning sign of dementia.These may include:Difficulty judging distances correctlyHaving a hard time recognizing familiar faces or objectsFinding it challenging to interpret imagesActivities like using the stairs, climbing into a bathtub, finding your way home, or reading a book may become more difficult.What it’s not:Gradual vision loss due tomacular degenerationorcataracts.Examples of Visual Spatial Problems in People With Dementia
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Visual-Spatial Difficultieskali9 E+ / Getty ImagesVisual-spatial changes are another warning sign of dementia.These may include:Difficulty judging distances correctlyHaving a hard time recognizing familiar faces or objectsFinding it challenging to interpret imagesActivities like using the stairs, climbing into a bathtub, finding your way home, or reading a book may become more difficult.What it’s not:Gradual vision loss due tomacular degenerationorcataracts.Examples of Visual Spatial Problems in People With Dementia
Visual-Spatial Difficulties
kali9 E+ / Getty Images
Visual-spatial changes are another warning sign of dementia.These may include:
Activities like using the stairs, climbing into a bathtub, finding your way home, or reading a book may become more difficult.
What it’s not:Gradual vision loss due tomacular degenerationorcataracts.
Examples of Visual Spatial Problems in People With Dementia
5Decrease in Written or Verbal CommunicationGlow Images Glowimages / Getty ImagesSome changes in communication that are major warning signs of dementia include:Finding it hard to come up with the right wordDifficulty writing your thoughts down clearlyFinding it difficult to understand othersHaving a hard time expressing yourselfWhat it’s not:Occasional difficulty finding the right word.When Should You Worry About Word-Finding Difficulty?
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Decrease in Written or Verbal CommunicationGlow Images Glowimages / Getty ImagesSome changes in communication that are major warning signs of dementia include:Finding it hard to come up with the right wordDifficulty writing your thoughts down clearlyFinding it difficult to understand othersHaving a hard time expressing yourselfWhat it’s not:Occasional difficulty finding the right word.When Should You Worry About Word-Finding Difficulty?
Decrease in Written or Verbal Communication
Glow Images Glowimages / Getty Images
Some changes in communication that are major warning signs of dementia include:
What it’s not:Occasional difficulty finding the right word.
When Should You Worry About Word-Finding Difficulty?
6Challenges With Problem-Solving and PlanningHill Street Studios / Getty ImagesWith dementia, abilities that involve planning, flexible thinking, control, memory, and organization tend to decline.These abilities are known as executive functions. A decline in executive functioning may look like:Difficulty balancing your checkbook and getting the bills paid on timeFinding cooking recipes hard to follow even if you’ve made them beforeTaking longer to make coffee in the morningIf you notice these changes in yourself or someone you love, contact your physician for an assessment.What it’s not:One or two mistakes in your math calculations.Recognizing the Early Symptoms of Dementia
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Challenges With Problem-Solving and PlanningHill Street Studios / Getty ImagesWith dementia, abilities that involve planning, flexible thinking, control, memory, and organization tend to decline.These abilities are known as executive functions. A decline in executive functioning may look like:Difficulty balancing your checkbook and getting the bills paid on timeFinding cooking recipes hard to follow even if you’ve made them beforeTaking longer to make coffee in the morningIf you notice these changes in yourself or someone you love, contact your physician for an assessment.What it’s not:One or two mistakes in your math calculations.Recognizing the Early Symptoms of Dementia
Challenges With Problem-Solving and Planning
Hill Street Studios / Getty Images
With dementia, abilities that involve planning, flexible thinking, control, memory, and organization tend to decline.These abilities are known as executive functions. A decline in executive functioning may look like:
If you notice these changes in yourself or someone you love, contact your physician for an assessment.
What it’s not:One or two mistakes in your math calculations.
Recognizing the Early Symptoms of Dementia
7Personality and Mood ChangesWestend61 / Getty ImagesHas your normally easygoing family member become irritable and fearful lately? Or, did they have anoverreactionwhen something minor changed in their routine?A shift in mood and behavior over the last several months is a warning sign that the brain may be going through some changes. If this is the case, consider getting anevaluation for dementia.What it’s not:Becoming a little more set in your ways and disliking change.Personality Changes in Alzheimer’s and Dementia
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Personality and Mood ChangesWestend61 / Getty ImagesHas your normally easygoing family member become irritable and fearful lately? Or, did they have anoverreactionwhen something minor changed in their routine?A shift in mood and behavior over the last several months is a warning sign that the brain may be going through some changes. If this is the case, consider getting anevaluation for dementia.What it’s not:Becoming a little more set in your ways and disliking change.Personality Changes in Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Personality and Mood Changes
Westend61 / Getty Images
Has your normally easygoing family member become irritable and fearful lately? Or, did they have anoverreactionwhen something minor changed in their routine?
A shift in mood and behavior over the last several months is a warning sign that the brain may be going through some changes. If this is the case, consider getting anevaluation for dementia.
What it’s not:Becoming a little more set in your ways and disliking change.
Personality Changes in Alzheimer’s and Dementia
8Misplacing Items FrequentlyJeffrey Coolidge / Getty ImagesWith dementia, keeping track of things may be incredibly difficult.Not only might things be misplaced, but the process of looking for the item can end in frustration and confusion.What it’s not:Losing your keys and later remembering you set them down on the piano.
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Misplacing Items FrequentlyJeffrey Coolidge / Getty ImagesWith dementia, keeping track of things may be incredibly difficult.Not only might things be misplaced, but the process of looking for the item can end in frustration and confusion.What it’s not:Losing your keys and later remembering you set them down on the piano.
Misplacing Items Frequently
Jeffrey Coolidge / Getty Images
With dementia, keeping track of things may be incredibly difficult.Not only might things be misplaced, but the process of looking for the item can end in frustration and confusion.
What it’s not:Losing your keys and later remembering you set them down on the piano.
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Decline in Judgment
REB Images / Image Source / Getty Images
If you’ve noticed a pattern of poor judgment lately in your loved one, it may be time to schedule an appointment with a physician.Examples of poor judgment may include:
What it’s not:The occasional questionable decision.
10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease
10Difficulty Performing Familiar TasksAdam Gault OJO Images / Getty ImagesGetting lost on your way home from the grocery store or difficultly doing the job you’ve had for 20 years are warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease oranother type of dementia.It’s important to recognize that this doesn’t refer to learning something new. Instead, this is a change in the ability to do something you’ve always been able to do until now.What it’s not:Difficulty using the new television remote control.
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Difficulty Performing Familiar TasksAdam Gault OJO Images / Getty ImagesGetting lost on your way home from the grocery store or difficultly doing the job you’ve had for 20 years are warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease oranother type of dementia.It’s important to recognize that this doesn’t refer to learning something new. Instead, this is a change in the ability to do something you’ve always been able to do until now.What it’s not:Difficulty using the new television remote control.
Difficulty Performing Familiar Tasks
Adam Gault OJO Images / Getty Images
Getting lost on your way home from the grocery store or difficultly doing the job you’ve had for 20 years are warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease oranother type of dementia.
It’s important to recognize that this doesn’t refer to learning something new. Instead, this is a change in the ability to do something you’ve always been able to do until now.
What it’s not:Difficulty using the new television remote control.
11SummaryThese are 10 major warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Some include memory loss, apathy, confusion with time and place, poor judgment, and a decline in planning and organizing.If you think you or a loved one are showing signs of Alzheimer’s disease, it’s important to speak with a doctor.Slower Walking in Older Adults Could Signal Early Dementia, According to Research
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SummaryThese are 10 major warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Some include memory loss, apathy, confusion with time and place, poor judgment, and a decline in planning and organizing.If you think you or a loved one are showing signs of Alzheimer’s disease, it’s important to speak with a doctor.Slower Walking in Older Adults Could Signal Early Dementia, According to Research
Summary
These are 10 major warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Some include memory loss, apathy, confusion with time and place, poor judgment, and a decline in planning and organizing.
If you think you or a loved one are showing signs of Alzheimer’s disease, it’s important to speak with a doctor.
Slower Walking in Older Adults Could Signal Early Dementia, According to Research
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Jahn H.Memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease.Dialogues Clin Neurosci.2013;15(4):445-54. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2013.15.4/hjahnGallagher D, Fischer CE, Iaboni A.Neuropsychiatric symptoms in mild cognitive impairment: an update on prevalence, mechanisms, and clinical significance.Can J Psychiatry. 2017;62(3):161-169. doi:10.1177/0706743716648296Apostolova LG.Alzheimer disease:CONTINUUM: Lifelong Learning in Neurology. 2016;22(2, Dementia):419-434. doi:10.1212/CON.0000000000000307Albers MW, Gilmore GC, Kaye J, et al.At the interface of sensory and motor dysfunctions and Alzheimer’s disease.Alzheimers Dement. 2015;11(1):70-98. doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2014.04.514Johnson DK, Storandt M, Morris JC, Galvin JE.Longitudinal study of the transition from healthy aging to Alzheimer disease.Archives of Neurology. 2019; 66(10), 1254-1259. doi:10.1001/archneurol.2009.158Rabinovici GD, Stephens ML, Possin KL.Executive dysfunction:CONTINUUM: Lifelong Learning in Neurology. 2015;21:646-659. doi:10.1212/01.CON.0000466658.05156.54Robins Wahlin TB, Byrne GJ.Personality changes in Alzheimer’s disease: a systematic review.Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2011;26(10):1019-29. doi:10.1002/gps.2655Mcgarrigle L, Howlett SE, Wong H, Stanley J, Rockwood K.Characterizing the symptom of misplacing objects in people with dementia: findings from an online tracking tool.Int Psychogeriatr. 2019;31(11):1635-1641. doi:10.1017/S104161021800220XParrao T, Brockman S, Bucks RS, et al.The structured interview for insight and judgment in dementia: development and validation of a new instrument to assess awareness in patients with dementia.Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring. 2017;7(1):24-32. doi:10.1016/j.dadm.2016.12.012
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Jahn H.Memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease.Dialogues Clin Neurosci.2013;15(4):445-54. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2013.15.4/hjahnGallagher D, Fischer CE, Iaboni A.Neuropsychiatric symptoms in mild cognitive impairment: an update on prevalence, mechanisms, and clinical significance.Can J Psychiatry. 2017;62(3):161-169. doi:10.1177/0706743716648296Apostolova LG.Alzheimer disease:CONTINUUM: Lifelong Learning in Neurology. 2016;22(2, Dementia):419-434. doi:10.1212/CON.0000000000000307Albers MW, Gilmore GC, Kaye J, et al.At the interface of sensory and motor dysfunctions and Alzheimer’s disease.Alzheimers Dement. 2015;11(1):70-98. doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2014.04.514Johnson DK, Storandt M, Morris JC, Galvin JE.Longitudinal study of the transition from healthy aging to Alzheimer disease.Archives of Neurology. 2019; 66(10), 1254-1259. doi:10.1001/archneurol.2009.158Rabinovici GD, Stephens ML, Possin KL.Executive dysfunction:CONTINUUM: Lifelong Learning in Neurology. 2015;21:646-659. doi:10.1212/01.CON.0000466658.05156.54Robins Wahlin TB, Byrne GJ.Personality changes in Alzheimer’s disease: a systematic review.Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2011;26(10):1019-29. doi:10.1002/gps.2655Mcgarrigle L, Howlett SE, Wong H, Stanley J, Rockwood K.Characterizing the symptom of misplacing objects in people with dementia: findings from an online tracking tool.Int Psychogeriatr. 2019;31(11):1635-1641. doi:10.1017/S104161021800220XParrao T, Brockman S, Bucks RS, et al.The structured interview for insight and judgment in dementia: development and validation of a new instrument to assess awareness in patients with dementia.Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring. 2017;7(1):24-32. doi:10.1016/j.dadm.2016.12.012
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Jahn H.Memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease.Dialogues Clin Neurosci.2013;15(4):445-54. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2013.15.4/hjahnGallagher D, Fischer CE, Iaboni A.Neuropsychiatric symptoms in mild cognitive impairment: an update on prevalence, mechanisms, and clinical significance.Can J Psychiatry. 2017;62(3):161-169. doi:10.1177/0706743716648296Apostolova LG.Alzheimer disease:CONTINUUM: Lifelong Learning in Neurology. 2016;22(2, Dementia):419-434. doi:10.1212/CON.0000000000000307Albers MW, Gilmore GC, Kaye J, et al.At the interface of sensory and motor dysfunctions and Alzheimer’s disease.Alzheimers Dement. 2015;11(1):70-98. doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2014.04.514Johnson DK, Storandt M, Morris JC, Galvin JE.Longitudinal study of the transition from healthy aging to Alzheimer disease.Archives of Neurology. 2019; 66(10), 1254-1259. doi:10.1001/archneurol.2009.158Rabinovici GD, Stephens ML, Possin KL.Executive dysfunction:CONTINUUM: Lifelong Learning in Neurology. 2015;21:646-659. doi:10.1212/01.CON.0000466658.05156.54Robins Wahlin TB, Byrne GJ.Personality changes in Alzheimer’s disease: a systematic review.Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2011;26(10):1019-29. doi:10.1002/gps.2655Mcgarrigle L, Howlett SE, Wong H, Stanley J, Rockwood K.Characterizing the symptom of misplacing objects in people with dementia: findings from an online tracking tool.Int Psychogeriatr. 2019;31(11):1635-1641. doi:10.1017/S104161021800220XParrao T, Brockman S, Bucks RS, et al.The structured interview for insight and judgment in dementia: development and validation of a new instrument to assess awareness in patients with dementia.Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring. 2017;7(1):24-32. doi:10.1016/j.dadm.2016.12.012
Jahn H.Memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease.Dialogues Clin Neurosci.2013;15(4):445-54. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2013.15.4/hjahn
Gallagher D, Fischer CE, Iaboni A.Neuropsychiatric symptoms in mild cognitive impairment: an update on prevalence, mechanisms, and clinical significance.Can J Psychiatry. 2017;62(3):161-169. doi:10.1177/0706743716648296
Apostolova LG.Alzheimer disease:CONTINUUM: Lifelong Learning in Neurology. 2016;22(2, Dementia):419-434. doi:10.1212/CON.0000000000000307
Albers MW, Gilmore GC, Kaye J, et al.At the interface of sensory and motor dysfunctions and Alzheimer’s disease.Alzheimers Dement. 2015;11(1):70-98. doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2014.04.514
Johnson DK, Storandt M, Morris JC, Galvin JE.Longitudinal study of the transition from healthy aging to Alzheimer disease.Archives of Neurology. 2019; 66(10), 1254-1259. doi:10.1001/archneurol.2009.158
Rabinovici GD, Stephens ML, Possin KL.Executive dysfunction:CONTINUUM: Lifelong Learning in Neurology. 2015;21:646-659. doi:10.1212/01.CON.0000466658.05156.54
Robins Wahlin TB, Byrne GJ.Personality changes in Alzheimer’s disease: a systematic review.Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2011;26(10):1019-29. doi:10.1002/gps.2655
Mcgarrigle L, Howlett SE, Wong H, Stanley J, Rockwood K.Characterizing the symptom of misplacing objects in people with dementia: findings from an online tracking tool.Int Psychogeriatr. 2019;31(11):1635-1641. doi:10.1017/S104161021800220X
Parrao T, Brockman S, Bucks RS, et al.The structured interview for insight and judgment in dementia: development and validation of a new instrument to assess awareness in patients with dementia.Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring. 2017;7(1):24-32. doi:10.1016/j.dadm.2016.12.012
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