5 Signs of Alzheimer’s That Can Show up Before Memory Loss

By Paula Spencer Scott, Caring.com senior editor

Memory loss is the symptom everybody worried about Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia seems to focus on. After all, it’s distressing — and increasingly obvious. Yet there are other common symptoms of Alzheimer’s or dementia that can turn up even earlier, researchers say.

Sometimes, according to memory experts, even doctors miss early dementia signs because they’re focused on memory loss to the exclusion of other symptoms.

In fact, in 2011 Spanish researchers found that more than a third of adults who go on to develop early-onset Alzheimer’s (the kind that appears before age 65) have the following symptoms early in the disease, even before memory loss is apparent. These symptoms can also be the first to appear among adults who develop Alzheimer’s after age 65.

Of course, if you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to have them checked out by a doctor, psychologist, or other expert in cognition and the brain.

Early sign of dementia #1: Personality change

A warm, friendly loved one may seem to morph into a bit of a grouch — at first occasionally, and then increasingly. A gregarious person still jokes and talks a lot but begins to say inappropriate things or make odd accusations. A mild-mannered loved one begins cursing. All of these are examples of the kinds of personality changes that can predate memory loss in someone with dementia. Often, it’s only later that friends and family look back and realize that behaviors they found off-putting or upsetting weren’t intentional but related to the Alzheimer’s.

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5 Signs of Alzheimer’s That Sometimes Show up Before Memory Loss originally appeared on Caring.com.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Valerie R.

10:03AM PDT on May 6, 2012

Very informative - I am researching articles as my parents are aging.

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Demet G.

1:01AM PST on Jan 30, 2012

The act of concentrating on something else non-emotional like a task actually physically blocks the amygdala and therefore makes you feel a bit better. This is what is behind the old adage of 'keeping oneself busy'. Being outside also helps depression
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Joanna M.

11:33AM PDT on Oct 18, 2011

I think I have all of these, but I can't really remember...

Jorie H.

10:19PM PDT on Aug 22, 2011

The line between normal and symptomatic is trickier than we think, though...

Emily S.

7:54AM PDT on Aug 22, 2011

Scary

Melinda offline K.

6:23AM PDT on Aug 22, 2011

A good article, thanks

Shalvah L.

6:06AM PDT on Aug 22, 2011

Our mind is part of our identity, it most be scary feeling you are 'loosing' your mind.

Franco D.

5:13AM PDT on Aug 22, 2011

It is scary. When my mom had a stroke everyone disappeared. It was a really rough time but being her caregiver was well worth it. Today I worry about Alzheimer or strokes......awful to become dependent.

Nola g.

5:38AM PDT on Aug 21, 2011

Thank you for all the information.

rosemary w.

9:26AM PDT on Aug 20, 2011

i worry about having this or cancer...they are both scary, not just for the person having the disease, but very hard on those close to the person. i will try to keep those signs in mind, but of course i might not be aware of them. i worry that my memory is getting worse. everyone just says that it's just a "senior moment" or they says they are much younger than i am and have the same problem. any unusual symptoms should be checked out and don't let doctors just dismiss things. we old people have a reputation for being difficult, so we might as well use old age to get what we want...and need. be a pain in the butt till they take you seriously or just give in to shut you up! we elders seldom, in this society, get the respect we deserve. i understand that "wisdom" is the part of the intelligence that continues to grow as we age.

some of these symptoms may be normal to aging. we may be perceived as becoming grumpy when we are at an age where we don't care about impressing others and will say or do what we want. the inevitable aches and pains and lowered stamina make me grumpy too! i think i am more social than i was when i was younger, though.