Forgetfulness with attempts to hide forgetting
Losing items or putting them in the wrong place
Getting lost while driving or walking in familiar places
Lack of interest in activities
Problems with focus
Problems recalling words
A change from complex to simple sentences
Problems doing math
Problems doing fine motor tasks, such as putting a key in the keyhole or buttoning a shirt
Problems doing daily tasks, such as finances, home tasks, and hygiene
Repeating questions and stories
Wordy speech that does not make sense
Problems naming things
Signs of depression

Middle Phase

Long-term memory may be good, but short-term memory begins to fail in this phase. Other changes may be:

Problems sleeping
Becoming less social and less aware of the feelings of others
Needing help to make decisions
Needing help bathing, grooming, dressing
Forgetting one’s own history of personal events
Personality changes, such as sudden mood shifts, anger, worry, or fearfulness

Advanced Phase

Abilities decline quickly in this phase. Changes may be:

Problems using language
Getting easily disoriented
Problems with urine control
Walking with a shuffle
Falling often
Showing little emotion
Pain and problems moving
Weight loss and problems swallowing
Mental health problems, such as mood changes and seeing things that are not there

References:

Alzheimer dementia. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/alzheimer-dementia. Updated August 9, 2019. Accessed October 8, 2019.

Alzheimer's disease medications fact sheet. National Institute on Aging website. Available at: https://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/publication/alzheimers-disease-medications-fact-sheet. Updated April 2, 2018. Accessed October 8, 2019.

Atri A. The Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Spectrum: Diagnosis and Management. Med Clin North Am. 2019 Mar;103(2):263-293.

Mendez MF. What is the relationship of traumatic brain injury to dementia? J Alzheimer’s Dis. 2017;57(3):667-81.

What is Alzheimer's? Alzheimer’s Association website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed October 8, 2019.

Last reviewed September 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Rimas Lukas, MD
Last Updated: 10/30/2020

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