How much do you know about the 10 symptoms of early-onset Alzheimer's disease?

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is usually an age-related form of dementia
.
Early AD occurs before
the age of 65 years.
AD is a progressive disease that causes memory problems and various associated symptoms, which means symptoms worsen over time, and it is the most common type of
dementia.
Currently, early-onset AD accounts for less than 10% of
all cases.
It is usually caused
by inherited genetic characteristics.
Most commonly seen around the age of 40 or 50, but some also begin in their 30s
.
There is currently no cure, but starting treatment early may help control symptoms and slow the progression
of the condition.

The main symptom of AD is memory loss, but other changes
may also occur.
These symptoms may also be similar to other types of dementia, and other conditions can also cause similar symptoms
.
Here are 10 common symptoms
of early-onset AD.

The most obvious symptom of AD is often memory loss
.
A person may start forgetting information or recent events
in an unusual way.
They may repeat the question, forget the answer or something
that has already been asked.
It's not uncommon for people to forget things as they get older, but for early-onset AD disease, it happens earlier, more often, and seems very abnormal
.

They may have difficulty completing other familiar tasks
.
For example, you might find it difficult to:

➤ Go to the grocery store, restaurant or workplace

➤ Follow familiar game rules

➤ Prepare simple meals

Sometimes, as they get older, people need help with new or unfamiliar things, such as the setup
of a new phone.
However, this does not necessarily indicate a problem
.
In contrast, if a person has been using the same phone for years and suddenly can't remember how to call, they may be experiencing AD-related memory loss
.

They may have difficulty following instructions, solving problems, and concentrating
.
For example, they may find it difficult to:

➤ Follow recipes

➤ Follow the product instructions

➤ Record or track monthly bills or expenses

Some people often have such problems, but if these problems begin to occur without having occurred before, they may indicate early-onset AD
.

AD can sometimes cause vision problems, making it difficult for patients to judge the distance
between objects.
They may find it difficult to distinguish between contrast and color or to judge speed or distance
.
Taken together, these vision problems affect a person's ability to
drive.
Normal aging can also affect vision, so regular check-ups
with an ophthalmologist are essential.

They may be confused about the place or time; It can be difficult to grasp the season, month, or time
of day.
It may also be confusing
in unfamiliar places.
As AD progresses, they may be confused in familiar places or wonder how they got there
.
They may also start wandering and getting lost
.

Most people will lose items at some point, but they will usually be able to find them
again by searching for logical locations and backtracking the steps.
However, people with AD may forget where they put the item, especially if they put it in an unusual place
.
They may also not be able to trace their steps to find the lost item
.
This can be distressing and can lead people to believe that someone is stealing their stuff
.

They may also have difficulties
with language and communication.
They may find it difficult to follow up or participate in conversations, or they may repeat themselves
.
They may also have difficulty writing down their thoughts
.

They may also stop halfway through the conversation and not know what to say next; It can also be difficult to find the right word or mismark things; It is not uncommon
for them to occasionally struggle to find the right word.
Usually, they will eventually remember and will not often encounter problems
.

They may begin to show changes in
their ability to make the right decisions.
For example, they might start:

➤ Take a long time to do unnecessary things

➤ Don't pay attention to personal dress, including washing

➤ Put things in unexpected places, like putting the keys in the fridge

People with AD may start to feel down
.
They may feel irritable, confused, anxious, or frustrated
.
It is also possible to lose interest in things that were previously liked
.

As AD progresses, they may no longer participate in social or work activities
they once enjoyed.

If one or more of these symptoms occur, you should go to the hospital as soon as possible
.
Early diagnosis may help slow the progression
of AD.
There is currently no test method for diagnosing AD, so doctors will make a diagnosis
based on observable symptoms.
They may try:

➤ Ask questions such as where they live and evaluate the answers;

➤Talk to family members about the behavior they exhibit;

➤ Consider the person's personal and family medical history;

➤ Do some testing to rule out other possible causes
.

References:

1.
10 ways to help a family living with Alzheimer's.
(2018)

2.
https://medlineplus.
gov/genetics/condition/alzheimer-disease/

3.
Earlier diagnosis.
(n.
d.
).

6.
What are the signs of Alzheimer's disease? (2017).

7.
What is Alzheimer's disease? (n.
d.
).

8.
Younger/early-onset Alzheimer's.
(n.
d.
).