Alzheimer’s is a progressive, incurable brain disease that slowly impacts your memory, cognitive abilities, and ability to carry out everyday tasks. Without proper treatment, it can lead to severe loss of function. Early symptoms of Alzheimer’s may include changes in personality or memory problems such as forgetfulness or isolation from friends and family members. As the disease progresses, it will cause difficulties with routine activities such as bathing, dressing, or communicating with people. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s vary from person to person and are also influenced by the duration of the condition. Furthermore, they can be masked by other conditions that might be mistaken for Alzheimer’s at first glance. That being said, watching out for these common symptoms can help you get checked sooner if you think you or your loved one may have the disease.
What Causes Alzheimer’s?
The exact cause of the disease is still unknown. However, it is believed that many different factors synergistically contribute to its development, such as genetics, environmental factors, and aging.
Confusion and Distraction
There are many reasons why people with Alzheimer’s may experience confusion or distraction. Some of these include environmental factors including drastic changes in one’s surroundings such as noise or lighting which may cause a person to experience confusion. The brain of someone with Alzheimer’s is not able to reposition itself quickly to understand what it is experiencing. Some medications, such as antidepressants may cause confusion. This is because they affect both the brain and the receptors in the brain that send messages between nerve cells. If a person is experiencing confusion and distraction, it can make it difficult for them to focus on simple tasks.
Difficulty in Concentration
Many people with mild cognitive impairment experience a decrease in concentration as they age. This can be seen as reduced focus on one task at a time. As Alzheimer’s progresses, it can cause an inability to maintain attention and focus on daily activities. This can make it difficult for patients to perform tasks such as reading, writing, or thinking about complex problems. It is usually linked to the progression of the disease.
Communication Issues
As the disease progresses, it may cause people to lose their ability to communicate with others or understand what others are saying. Communication issues can occur due to a decline in memory or an inability to understand the meaning behind what others are saying.
Loss of Self-Care Skills
Memory and cognitive abilities are important for everyday function such as planning for the future, managing finances, or driving a car safely. As Alzheimer’s progresses, self-care skills like dressing, bathing, or eating are affected. As someone gets older, it is natural that they will experience some decline in skills. However, this can be accelerated by Alzheimer’s.
Depression and Anxiety
Changes in mood are a common as feelings of worthlessness or frustration at their current situation creep in. These feelings may be worsened by the idea of losing one’s memory and independence. People who experience mood changes may also need additional treatment. It is important to note that just because your loved one is suffering from mood changes, they do not necessarily have Alzheimer’s.
