Of people with mild cognitive impairment, about 15% will progress to dementia each year; 90% of this will be due to Alzheimer’s disease4
Only a doctor can diagnose the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. However some of the differences between the signs of Alzheimer’s disease and typical age-related changes are shown below:
Signs of Alzheimer's disease | Typical age-related changes |
---|---|
Difficulty remembering recent events | Some difficulty remembering events from the past |
Poor judgment and decision making | Making a bad decision once in a while |
Inability to manage a budget | Missing a monthly payment |
Losing track of the date or the season | Forgetting which day it is and remembering later |
Difficulty having a conversation Repeating the same stories over and over again |
Sometimes forgetting which word to use |
Misplacing things and being unable to retrace steps to find them | Losing things from time to time |
Changes in mood and personality, inappropriate social behavior | Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted |
Withdrawal from work or social activities | Sometimes feeling weary of work, family and social obligations |
New problems with spoken and written words | Sometimes struggling to find the right words |
Trouble understanding visual images | Struggling with vision due to age - related eye impairment |
Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure | Occasionally needing help with technical settings |
If memory loss gets worse or has a significant effect on daily life, see a doctor
Am I at Risk of developing Early Alzheimer's disease?