The main symptoms that may indicate Alzheimer’s are memory loss, disorientation, repeating conversations, sudden changes in mood and changes in language, for example, and it is important that a neurologist is consulted so that an assessment can be carried out and the diagnosis confirmed.
Alzheimer’s symptoms are more common after the age of 65, however, it is not impossible for them to occur in young people, especially when there is a family history, which can begin around the age of 30 and is called early Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s disease is a disease in which early diagnosis is essential to delay its progression, as it usually worsens as dementia progresses. See more about Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s symptoms
The main signs and symptoms that can help in the early identification of Alzheimer’s are:
- Memory loss;
- Difficulty performing day-to-day tasks;
- Disorientation;
- Language problems;
- Repeat conversations or tasks;
- Change the place of things;
- Sudden changes in mood and personality, in some cases;
- Lack of interest in usual activities.
It is important to be aware of the appearance of these signs and symptoms, so that a neurologist or psychiatrist is consulted and, thus, a diagnosis is made and treatment is initiated with the aim of preventing the progression of the changes.
Test Alzheimer’s online
Take this quick test to find out if you are at risk of having Alzheimer’s:
Symptoms according to the stage of the disease
The signs of Alzheimer’s may also vary depending on the stage/phase of the disease the person is in:
1. Initial phase
In the early stages of Alzheimer’s, the main signs are:
- Memory changesmainly difficulty remembering the most recent events, such as where you kept your house keys, someone’s name or a place you were, for example;
- Disorientation in familiar environments, such as a supermarket, cinema, family or friends’ house, for example;
- Difficulty making simple decisionshow to plan what to cook or buy;
- Constantly repeating the same informationor ask the same questions;
- Loss of will in carrying out day-to-day activities;
- Loss of interest for activities you used to do, such as sewing or doing calculations;
- Changing behaviorgenerally becoming more aggressive or anxious;
- Increased anxiety;
- More time to carry out usual daily activities.
At this stage, memory changes occur for recent situations, and the memory of old situations remains normal, which makes it more difficult to realize that it could be a sign of Alzheimer’s.
Therefore, when these changes are noticed, they should not be associated only with normal aging, and it is important to consult a geriatrician or neurologist so that evaluations and memory tests can be carried out that can identify more serious changes. If you suspect that someone close to you has this disease, answer the questions on our rapid Alzheimer’s test.
2. Moderate phase
In the moderate phase of Alzheimer’s the main signs are:
- Difficulty cooking or cleaning the houseleaving the stove on, placing raw food on the table or using the wrong utensils to clean the house, for example;
- Inability to perform personal hygiene or forgetting to clean yourself, wearing the same clothes constantly or walking around dirty;
- Difficulty communicatingnot remembering words or saying meaningless phrases and having little vocabulary;
- Difficulty reading and writing;
- Disorientation in familiar locations, getting lost inside your own house, urinating in the trash can, or confusing the rooms;
- Hallucinationssuch as hearing and seeing things that are not there and suspicion/paranoia that your things are being “stolen”;
- Loss of impulse control, so that you may take off your clothes in inappropriate environments or use inappropriate language;
- Always be very suspiciousmainly robberies;
- Sleep changesbeing able to exchange day for night, in addition to insomnia.
At this stage, the elderly person becomes dependent on a family member for care, because they are no longer able to do their daily tasks, due to all the difficulties and mental confusion. In addition, it is possible to have difficulty walking and have sleep disturbances.
3. Advanced phase
In the advanced stage of the disease, the symptoms are more severe and the person can become quite dependent, the main signs being:
- Not memorizing any new information and not remembering old information;
- Forgetting about family, friends and known placesnot identifying the name or recognizing the face;
- Difficulty understanding what is happening around you;
- Have incontinence urinary and fecal;
- Difficulty swallowing foodyou may choke or take a long time to finish a meal;
- Display inappropriate behavior, such as burping or spitting on the floor;
- Losing the ability to make simple movements with the arms and legs, like eating with a spoon;
- Difficulty walkingr, sit or stand, for example.
At this stage, the person may start to lie down or sit more throughout the day and, if nothing is done to prevent this, the tendency is for them to become increasingly fragile and limited. Thus, you may need to use a wheelchair or even be bedridden, becoming dependent on other people to carry out all tasks, such as bathing or changing diapers.
In addition, it is also possible to notice increased drowsiness, convulsions and urinary and fecal incontinence.
How to confirm the diagnosis
To diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, it is important to consult a geriatrician and/or a neurologist, to evaluate the person’s clinical history and observe the signs and symptoms of the disease. In addition, examinations such as magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography and blood tests are recommended.
Memory and cognition tests are also carried out, such as the Mini Mental State Examination, Token test, Clock Test and verbal fluency test, to assess the degree of the symptom presented and, thus, be able to more accurately classify the phase of the disease that is occurring. the person meets.
How the treatment is carried out
The treatment of Alzheimer’s disease involves taking medications to reduce the symptoms of the disease, such as Memantine, in addition to the need for physiotherapy and cognitive stimulation.
Thus, as the disease has no cure, treatment must be instituted throughout life and it is normal for the individual to become dependent on others to carry out daily tasks, such as eating, brushing teeth or bathing and, therefore, It is important that there is a caregiver nearby to help and prevent the patient from being in danger. See more details about Alzheimer’s treatment.
Bibliography
- GALVIN, JAMES E. The Quick Dementia Rating System (QDRS). Disponível em: <http://med.fau.edu/research/The%20Quick%20Dementia%20Rating%20System%20Instructions%20and%20Form.pdf>. Acesso em 04 ago 2020
