As many symptoms are often put down to the menopause, depression, stress or simply aging, it can be tricky to catch Alzheimer’s in its early stages.
Former GMTV host Fiona Phillips recently revealed she has the disease at the relatively young age of 62 – initially thinking she was just suffering from brain fog and anxiety.
Although she believed the symptoms were the result of a particularly bad menopause, she was diagnosed with the illness - a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills - 18 months ago.
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But what are the signs that you, or someone you know, may in fact be suffering from Alzheimer’s?
Memory loss
Memory loss is one of the early signs of Alzheimer’s and can include forgetting important dates, names, places or events. Sufferers may also ask the same questions repeatedly, forgetting they have just received an answer, or retell stories.
Poor judgement
Alzheimer's also affects people’s judgement and decision-making ability. This could manifest as bad financial decisions, poor hygiene or socially inappropriate actions. The disease can hinder people’s ability to plan, or follow directions which can lead to hasty decisions, The Mirror reports.
Misplacing things
This is one of the most frustrating symptoms for many sufferers as they might often put items in strange places. Unable to retrace their steps in order to find it again, it can make things very tricky and this can result in outbursts as they grow confused and suspicious of others.
Changes in mood
People who have Alzheimer’s may suffer from anxiety or mood changes, and become agitated or upset in both normal situations and when out of their comfort zone. This can also lead to withdrawal from social activities and hobbies.
Difficulty completing tasks
Daily tasks can become difficult for people that are suffering from the disease. It might be that they struggle to drive or travel to a particular location.
They might get confused while writing a shopping list or following a recipe, or forget to clean parts of the house and take out the bins.
Confusion with time/place
Unfortunately people with Alzheimer’s may struggle with the particular dates, seasons, years, and the passing of time in general.
They might forget where they are, what they are supposed to be doing and how they got there. It is also a tell tale sign if people cannot understand why an activity or event is not happening immediately.
Problems with words
People may struggle to join in or follow along with a conversation. They might stop suddenly, and have no idea how to continue talking or start asking questions or repeat themselves.
This can also extend to vocabulary, with people calling items or other people the wrong name or using the wrong word - for example, calling a 'computer' a ‘typing machine’.
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How to get a diagnosis
A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s usually starts with a conversation with a health professional, most often a GP. There is no single test for Alzheimer's disease and a diagnosis may be based on a combination of different types of assessments.
If a GP thinks their symptoms may be caused by dementia, they will refer the person to a local memory service for more detailed assessment. Alzheimer’s will usually be diagnosed by a specialist health professional.
A person with Alzheimer’s should receive a clear explanation of their diagnosis if they want to know it. There should also be a discussion about the next steps and what support is available.
