Alzheimer disease symptoms are mild when they start. They get worse over time.
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
References
Alzheimer dementia. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/alzheimer-dementia. Accessed April 6, 2022.
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. Accessed April 6, 2022.
Atri, A. The Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Spectrum: Diagnosis and Management. Med Clin North Am. 2019; 103(2): 263-293.
Mendez, M.F. 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: http://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimers. Accessed April 6, 2022.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Rimas Lukas, MD
- Review Date: 03/2022
- Update Date: 04/07/2022