Alzheimer's disease
Description
An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Symptoms
The early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD) may be overlooked because they resemble signs of natural aging. Older adults who begin to notice a persistent mild memory loss of recent events may have a condition called mild cognitive impairment (MCI). MCI is now believed to be a significant sign of early-stage Alzheimer's in older people. Studies now suggest that older individuals who experience such mild memory abnormalities can later develop Alzheimer's disease.
Early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease may include:
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Forgetfulness (particularly of recent events or information)
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Loss of concentration (having trouble planning or completing familiar tasks, difficulty with abstract thinking such as simple arithmetic problems)
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Language problems (forgetting the names of objects, mixing up words, difficulty completing sentences)
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Confusion about time and place (difficulty recognizing familiar neighborhoods or remembering how arrived at a location, confusion about months or seasons )
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Impaired judgement (dressing inappropriately or making poor financial decisions)
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Impaired movement and coordination (slowing of movements, halting gait, reduced sense of balance)
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Mood and behavior changes (rapid mood swings, emotional outbursts, personality changes, increased fear or suspicion)
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Apathy and depression (loss of interest in activities, increased sleeping, sitting in front of the television for long periods of time)
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Review Date: 5/22/2006
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Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.
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