Early Alzheimer’s: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment

Early Alzheimer’s or “presenile dementia”, is a rare type of Alzheimer’s that begins before the age of 65, normally between 40 and 50, and is related to hereditary genetic changes that lead to progressive loss of cognition, resulting in symptoms such as memory failure or loss, mental confusion, aggression and difficulty in carrying out daily routine activities.

These genetic changes lead to the accumulation of “tau” proteins and beta-amyloids in the brain, specifically in the part responsible for speech and memory, resulting in the development of Alzheimer’s symptoms. Know how to recognize the symptoms of Alzheimer’s.

When the first symptoms appear, they are often confused with excessive stress or depression, which is why the diagnosis of early Alzheimer’s ends up being late. The ideal is to consult a neurologist whenever symptoms appear and there is a family history of the disease, as early diagnosis is important to start treatment and delay the worsening of Alzheimer’s.

Main symptoms

Symptoms of early-onset Alzheimer’s generally develop faster than older Alzheimer’s, causing rapid loss of cognition.

The main symptoms of early Alzheimer’s are:

• Vision changessuch as difficulty seeing a complete image;
• Difficulty in perception deep;
• Difficulty recognizing faces and people;
• Decreased communication ability verbal or written;
• Learning difficulty of new tasks;
• Forgetting common thingslike whether or not you had lunch;

• Frequent memory failureslike leaving home and forgetting where you were going;
• Mental confusionlike not knowing where you are or what you were doing there;
• Storing objects in inappropriate placeslike the telephone inside the refrigerator;
• Remaining silent for long periods in the middle of a conversation;
• Insomnia, difficulty sleeping or multiple nighttime awakenings;
• Difficulty performing simple calculationslike 3 x 4, or think logically;
• Loss of movementssuch as difficulty getting up alone;
• Anguish and depressionlike sadness that doesn’t go away and the desire to isolate oneself;
• Hypersexualitywhich may involve masturbation in public or inappropriate speech;
• Excessive irritability for not remembering certain things or not understanding a certain situation;
• Aggressivenesssuch as hitting family and friends, throwing things against the wall or floor;
• Apathyas if nothing else mattered.

In the case of early Alzheimer’s, the symptoms of the disease develop much more quickly than in the elderly and the inability to take care of oneself appears very early. Know how to recognize the symptoms of Alzheimer’s in the elderly.

It is important to consult a neurologist as soon as symptoms indicative of early Alzheimer’s appear, so that a diagnosis can be made and appropriate treatment can be initiated. This consultation is even more important in the case of people who have cases of Alzheimer’s in the family, as they have a greater risk of developing early Alzheimer’s.

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At what age does early Alzheimer’s appear?

Typically, early Alzheimer’s appears between the ages of 40 and 50, however there is no exact age at which it begins, as there are reports of it appearing at both 27 and 51 years of age. The most important thing is that people who have a family history of Alzheimer’s should be aware of the appearance of symptoms.

How to confirm the diagnosis

The diagnosis of early Alzheimer’s is made by a neurologist through evaluation of symptoms and family history of Alzheimer’s, memory and cognition tests, and through imaging tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography of the brain.

Additionally, the doctor may request clinical examinations to rule out other diseases that cause memory changes, such as hypothyroidism, depression, vitamin B12 deficiency, hepatitis or HIV, for example.

Possible causes

The exact cause of early-onset Alzheimer’s is not fully known, but it is believed to occur due to mutations in the APP, PSEN1 and PSEN2 genes, which lead to the accumulation of proteins in the brain, such as beta-amyloid protein and Tau protein. This accumulation of proteins appears to cause inflammation, disorganization and destruction of neuronal cells, especially in the areas responsible for memory and interpretation of information.

These genetic changes are hereditary, which means that early Alzheimer’s is more common to occur within the same family, as mutations can be passed from parents to children.

How the treatment is carried out

The treatment of early Alzheimer’s must be guided by a neurologist, to help reduce symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. This way, the doctor can prescribe different medications, such as donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine or memantine, which help maintain mental cognitive functions. See all drug options for Alzheimer’s.

In addition, the doctor may also recommend the use of medications to improve sleep quality and mood, as well as psychotherapy, regular physical activity and a balanced diet, including antioxidant foods.

The treatment of early Alzheimer’s must be carried out by a multidisciplinary team, with doctors, physiotherapists, speech therapists, nutritionists and occupational therapists, so that it is possible to prevent the appearance of other symptoms and complications, and improve quality of life.