Symptoms of Alzheimer Disease

Early Phase

Common problems in the early phase are:

• Forgetfulness—and trying to hide it
• Losing items or putting them in the wrong place
• Getting lost while driving or walking in familiar places
• Problems with focus or lack of interest in activities
• Problems recalling words or naming things
• 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 chores, and hygiene
• Repeating questions and stories
• Wordy speech that does not make sense
• Signs of depression

Middle Phase

Long-term memory may be good on this phase. Short-term memory begins to fail. 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 or 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