If a person close to you has become unusually forgetful in recent months, you may be concerned they’re developing early-stage Alzheimer’s. The good news, however, is that you may not need to be concerned — because, although most people become somewhat forgetful as they get older, only 11.3 percent of people over 65 actually have Alzheimer’s.
So what are the telltale signs of Alzheimer’s? While only a physician can provide a definitive diagnosis, it’s a good idea to bring your loved one in for a checkup if they repeatedly ask the same questions, consistently forget daily chores and errands, or develop uncharacteristic changes in behavior and attitude.
Here, we’ll walk through 10 indicators that your loved one could have early-stage Alzheimer’s, and may need to be diagnosed by a medical professional.
Sign 1: Repeatedly forgetting whether they’ve done something
Sign 2: Asking the same question multiple times in a short period
Sign 3: Forgetting where they are, or how they got there
Sign 4: Struggling to remember the steps of familiar tasks
Sign 5: Getting confused while navigating familiar locations
Sign 6: Frequently misplacing objects around the house
Sign 7: Behaving aggressively toward friends and family
Sign 8: “Blanking out” in the middle of telling stories
Sign 9: Struggling to recall familiar words and names
Sign 10: Neglecting household tidiness and personal hygiene
Sign 1: Repeatedly forgetting whether they’ve done something
Everybody gets a little forgetful during a hectic day — that’s why we write out to-do lists. But if your loved one repeatedly forgets to take their medication, or makes multiple trips to the same store to buy items they’ve already bought, those could be signs of a more serious problem; especially if your loved one struggles to recall the event when you ask them about it directly. This level of forgetfulness about errands and other daily tasks may be an indicator of Alzheimer’s.
Sign 2: Asking the same question multiple times in a short period
Although it’s normal to forget a name or a date over the course of a conversation, repeated requests for the exact same information could point to an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. This sign can be difficult to spot, especially in the disease’s early stages, because your loved one may reply with a saving appearance response (SAR) such as, “Right, of course; I knew that.” However, as Alzheimer’s progresses, your loved one may repeatedly ask for the date or time within a span of just a few minutes.
Sign 3: Forgetting where they are, or how they got there
Many older people have difficulty remembering the date and time, but that in itself isn’t necessarily a sign of Alzheimer’s. Difficulty remembering the current season or year, on the other hand, may very well point to a significant problem. Many people with Alzheimer’s also struggle to remember the locations of familiar stores and other favorite places — and as the disease develops, your loved one may even become forgetful about where they currently are, or how they arrived there.
Sign 4: Struggling to remember the steps of familiar tasks
New technology can be challenging for anyone to master — but if your loved one suddenly begins struggling with familiar tasks like changing TV channels, setting an alarm, or mailing a letter, those may be indicators that Alzheimer’s is affecting their short-term memory. It’s important to keep in mind that most people take longer to complete tasks as they grow older; that’s a normal sign of aging. However, if your loved one repeatedly loses focus mid-task, it’s probably time to see a doctor.
Sign 5: Getting confused while navigating familiar locations
People with early-stage Alzheimer’s can often function independently around their home. They may even continue to take public transport to nearby stores and friends’ houses. However, as the disease moves into its moderate stages, even a familiar location can transform into a frightening and confusing environment. If your loved one becomes disoriented in a store they regularly visit, or struggles to navigate within their own home, Alzheimer’s could be the culprit.
Sign 6: Frequently misplacing objects around the house
Everyone can relate to the frustration of losing the remote. A certain amount of forgetfulness about misplaced objects is a normal sign of aging. But if “missing” objects become a daily problem for your loved one, Alzheimer’s may be to blame. People with Alzheimer’s often express anger and confusion about lost items, and may aggressively try to blame others. If your loved one does this, don’t take it personally — but do make an appointment with your doctor.
Sign 7: Behaving aggressively toward friends and family
Aging can be stressful for a wide range of reasons. Older people frequently experience joint and muscle pain, and have trouble sleeping; and this discomfort can sometimes manifest in a “cranky” attitude. However, the disorientation and memory loss caused by Alzheimer’s can be far more frightening than ordinary aging. If your loved one feels confused or threatened, they may lash out with sudden bouts of aggression against friends and family members. Again, don’t take it personally — but consider bringing in some medical expertise.
Sign 8: “Blanking out” in the middle of telling stories
Occasional memory lapses are a normal part of aging. When older people “zone out” (or even doze off) during long conversations, that’s more often a sign of boredom or exhaustion than of dementia. Drawing a complete blank in the middle of telling a story, on the other hand, may be an indicator of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s — and people with the disease may try to cover up the blank by piecing together narratives from their memories of several different events.
Sign 9: Struggling to recall familiar words and names
We’ve all experienced the famous “tip of the tongue” phenomenon, where we just can’t quite remember the word we want to use. This tends to happen more often as people grow older — but if your loved one abruptly loses their ability to remember everyday words, and the names of familiar people, these may be signs of Alzheimer’s. People with the disease often use similar-sounding but incorrect words (for example, “floor” instead of “flower”), and create their own words for objects they’re struggling to name (calling a watch a “hand-clock,” for instance).
Sign 10: Neglecting household tidiness and personal hygiene
Everybody’s house gets a bit messy during busy weeks, and we’ve all skipped a shower now and then. But if your loved one suddenly starts letting the garbage rot, leaving clutter all over the floor, and forgetting to bathe and brush their teeth, Alzheimer’s could be to blame. However, it’s equally possible that these could be indicators of depression, not dementia — especially if your loved one isn’t showing any other signs of unusual forgetfulness.
If you suspect your loved one may have Alzheimer’s, it’s natural to want to step in and get medical help as soon as possible. An early intervention can often reduce many symptoms of Alzhemer’s, and some simple changes in exercise and diet can significantly slow the disease’s progress, and improve your loved one’s quality of life.
At the same time, it’s important to avoid jumping to conclusions, and to approach your loved one in a spirit of collaboration. Their most immediate instinct will likely be to deny that anything’s wrong — an understandable reaction, given how scary an Alzheimer’s diagnosis can be. But with your support and compassion, they don’t have to go it alone. And that counts for a lot.
