29 Aug 2016
The average person with Alzheimer’s is a person in his or her late seventies whose symptoms arise slowly, over time. However, of the 747,000 people with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia in Canada, up to five per cent of those people have younger-onset Alzheimer’s, which is also commonly misdiagnosed.
Here are some early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. You may be surprised to learn that many early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease have nothing to do with memory problems.
- Behavioural Changes (Stealing and Law Breaking)
Early signs of Alzheimer’s include behavioural changes that involve people making poor moral decisions that they wouldn’t normally make. This could include stealing and other law-breaking behaviour. In some cases, the ability to make decisions between right and wrong becomes hindered due to the executive function of the brain (that is, decision-making skills) not working as well. - Frequent Falling
If you or someone you know is frequently tripping over items or falling down, it is recommended that you make an appointment with your doctor to assess the possibility of cognitive impairments due to Alzheimer’s. - Forgetting The Purpose or Place Of Objects
If you are forgetting what a key is used for or where dirty laundry is supposed to go, this is a potential sign of early Alzheimer’s, along with other forms of dementia. - Staring without a Focus
This can be a sign that one’s brain is having problems processing information and thoughts, which results in unfocused staring. This could be an early sign of Alzheimer’s. - Consistently Unable to Recognize Sarcasm
If you’re consistently unable to recognize sarcasm, this could be an early warning sign of Alzheimer’s. The reason for this is thought to be the fact that the short-term memory is unable to process these remarks due to the fact that the posterior hippocampus of the brain is affected by the disease. - Depression
Studies show that those who are diagnosed with depression after the age of 50, when they have never experienced an episode of it in their lifetime, are three times more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. - Eating Inedible Objects
Some people have eaten inedible objects, such as paper, just before their official diagnosis. Medical professionals are unsure of the reason for this, but it is thought that the brain receives hunger cues but is unable to appropriately respond to them.
If you are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, know that symptoms can be managed and that help is available. C-Care Health Services offer a variety of affordable, high quality and personalized services. Contact us today.
