A Full List of Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease

Signs of mild Alzheimer’s disease

Early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease can be mild and subtle — so subtle that you may not notice a change in your thinking or behavior.

In the early stages of the disease, you’ll likely have trouble remembering new information. This is because the disease often starts to affect areas of your brain that are responsible for learning new information. You may repeat questions over and over, forget conversations or important appointments, or misplace objects such as your car keys.

Occasional memory issues can be a typical part of aging, so experiencing some forgetfulness does not necessarily mean you have Alzheimer’s disease. But you should talk with a doctor if these issues worsen.

Early symptoms include:

• misplacing objects and being unable to retrace your steps
• experiencing memory loss that affects everyday life (such as forgetting how to drive to a well-known place)
• having difficulty with planning or problem-solving (such as being unable to budget)
• taking longer to do typical daily tasks
• losing track of time
• having trouble determining distance and telling colors apart
• having difficulty following conversations
• experiencing decreased judgment, which can lead to bad decisions
• experiencing mood and personality changes
• withdrawing from social activities
• experiencing increased anxiety or depression

The early stages of Alzheimer’s are different from early onset Alzheimer’s disease, which occurs in people who are younger than 65 years oldTrusted Source.

Signs of moderate Alzheimer’s disease

Over time, the disease progresses, and the effects on brain function worsen. Family and friends may recognize changes in your thinking and behavior before you do.

Sometimes, it’s hard to identify memory problems in yourself. But as the disease progresses, you may recognize telltale symptoms such as confusion and a shorter attention span. As more of your brain cells die, you’ll begin to show symptoms of moderate Alzheimer’s, which include:

• trouble with recognizing friends and family members
• difficulty with language and problems with reading, writing, or working with numbers
• difficulty organizing your thoughts and thinking logically
• difficulty learning new tasks or coping with new or unexpected situations
• unexpected feelings of anger or aggression
• perceptual-motor problems, such as trouble getting out of a chair or setting the table
• repetitive statements or movements, and occasional muscle twitches
• hallucinations, delusions, suspiciousness or paranoia, and irritability
• decreased impulse control, which may involve undressing at inappropriate times or places or using vulgar language
• worsening of behavioral symptoms, such as restlessness, agitation, anxiety, tearfulness, and wandering — especially in the late afternoon or evening, when it is called “sundowning”

Signs of severe Alzheimer’s disease

At this point in the disease, brain plaques (clusters of protein that destroy brain cells) and tangles (dying nerve cells that twist around one another) increaseTrusted Source as Alzheimer’s disease progresses. Both of these features are hallmarks of Alzheimer’s.

This is the final stage of Alzheimer’s disease. People at this stage begin to lose certain physical abilities and may need 24-hour care. They sleep more often and may not be able to communicate or recognize loved ones.

Other symptoms of severe Alzheimer’s disease include:

• lack of bladder and bowel control
• weight loss
• seizures
• groaning, moaning, or grunting
• difficulty swallowing
• malnutrition
• dehydration
• limited mobility
• bedsores, muscle weakness, and other symptoms of inactivity

As a result of the loss of physical function, people with late stage Alzheimer’s disease may experience complications. For example, difficulty swallowing can result in inhalation of liquids into the lungs, which increases the risk of pneumonia.

Frequently asked questions

How can you tell if someone has dementia or Alzheimer’s?

To find out whether you have Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia, a doctor needs to examine you, take your symptom history, and order various tests. In the early stages, when Alzheimer’s is not visible on imaging scans, it can be hard to tell the difference because multiple types of dementia can present similarly.

How long does early stage Alzheimer’s last?

Many aspects of your genetics, your lifestyle, and your overall health, as well as the timing of the diagnosis, can affect the speed at which Alzheimer’s disease progresses. But in general, the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease may last about 2 years.

At what age does Alzheimer’s usually start?

People most commonly develop Alzheimer’s at 65 years of age or olderTrusted Source. But in some cases, people can develop it at younger ages, even as early as 30 years of age. This is called early onset Alzheimer’s disease.

Is Alzheimer’s curable if caught early?

There’s currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease at any stage. But catching it early can allow for treatments that may slow the progression.

Early diagnosis can also allow you to make decisions about your treatment preferences for the later stages of the disease or other end-of-life preparations.

How can I check if I have Alzheimer’s?

If you’re concerned about symptoms that could be due to Alzheimer’s, make an appointment with your doctor. They will perform a neurological exam and may send you for imaging tests.

Takeaway

The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease can be subtle in the early stages but will affect all aspects of life in the later stages. They include mental symptoms such as memory loss, irritability, and confusion as well as physical symptoms such as loss of coordination and loss of bladder control.

Talk with a doctor if you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Because the symptoms worsen over time, it’s important to recognize the possibility of Alzheimer’s. Your doctor can make a diagnosis and assess whether the symptoms are mild, moderate, or severe.