Alzheimer’s Disease and other types of dementia affect memory, cognition, thinking, and behavior. Over time, it can disrupt daily life and even make even the simplest chores and activities become impossible to accomplish.

Today, many older people are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. However, not everyone can recognize the red flags early on, making treatment even harder as the disease is progressive.

Learn about the common warning signs of Alzheimer’s from Alzheimer’s Association, and be educated about the things to watch out for.

10 Early Alzheimer’s Red Flags

1. One of the most common signs of early-stage Alzheimer’s is memory loss that disrupts daily life. One sign is when they forget important events or are in need of memory aids to help them accomplish what could have been simple tasks.
2. They may also have trouble following through with a plan, following directions or recipes, or keeping track of bills and appointments. They may also have more difficulty concentrating than normal.
3. They may have difficulty accomplishing daily tasks that they even used to do before without any trouble. They may find themselves having a hard time driving to familiar locations, remembering where they put everyday objects, or remembering rules of a game they used to play often.
4. They may also lose track of time and place, making them confused.
5. They may also exhibit visual and spatial problems. They may have trouble reading, gauging distance, determining colors, and this can be dangerous when they’re driving.
6. They may also have trouble following a conversation. They may stop in the middle of talking and forget their train of thought. They may also have to repeat themselves. Aside from this, they may have trouble voicing their ideas as they can’t find the right words or names for certain things.
7. They may also constantly misplace or lose things. They may have to retrace their steps all the time. This can occur more and more frequently as their condition progresses.
8. They may also have waning judgment. For example, they may give a lot of money to solicitors, or pay less attention to themselves, especially in terms of grooming and hygiene.
9. They may also withdraw from social activities. Hobbies that they used to like doing may not have as much importance to them now. They may also have trouble keeping up with social activities.
10. They may also have mood and personality changes. They can become confused, overly suspicious, fearful, anxious, depressed, and isolated. They may easily be upset, sometimes suddenly and for no reason. This may occur most especially when they feel like they’re in an unfamiliar location or situation.