How to Determine the Early Signs of Alzheimer's Disease

It is important for any disease or condition to get the correct diagnosis as early as possible in order to getting proper medication and treatment as soon as possible. It can go a long way toward delaying its onset or reducing its symptoms. Alzheimer's disease is no exception. While there is no cure for this destructive disease, doctors are researching new medications and therapies for it all the time. So, it's important to know about any early sign of Alzheimer's disease in an aging parent or spouse. The appropriate medication, if given early enough, can do wonders to keep that person alert and active for much longer than without them.

Apparently memory loss is an early sign of Alzheimer's disease, but memory loss bothers everyone from time to time and is typically a normal part of aging. It does not automatically mean Alzheimer's. What may be a better indicator is what the patient is forgetting in particular. For instance, if you forget to pick up your child after soccer practice, that may be somewhat normal and due to stress, an overworked schedule, assuming it was your spouse's turn this week, and so on. But if you're looking right at your child and don't remember who he or she is, that's an early sign of Alzheimer's disease. Unusual things can be forgotten easily, but everyday things that are forgotten can be more serious.

Paranoia is another early sign of Alzheimer's disease. It's not unusual for those in the middle stages of the disease to start becoming very mistrustful and harsh of those around them. One of the ways that you can suspect that this is an early sign of Alzheimer's disease is that their accusations often make no sense. They may be convinced that you are stealing from them, or that you've come into their house and done things - rearranged drawers, put clothes in the hamper, etc. - and may have a long list of complaints about others as well.

Changes in personality and behavior are also common, as the patient becomes touchier and downright angry for no noticeable reason.

If you expect a family member is displaying early signs of Alzheimer's disease, you may want to make some notes of their symptoms and activities, being as definite as you can. Then make an appointment with the family physician who can conduct further tests for a correct diagnosis.