12 signs of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease

You’ve probably heard the terms “dementia” and “Alzheimer’s disease” used interchangeably. But, before you’re able to recognise the symptoms of early-onset Alzheimer’s, you need to be able to tell the difference between dementia vs. Alzheimer’s. Here’s a quick recap: Dementia is an overarching term for mental decline (including loss of memory, language skills and thinking abilities) that could be caused by many diseases and conditions, whereas Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia.

Often, Alzheimer’s disease is thought to be a condition that affects the elderly, but it can also impact people under age 65, which is known as early-onset. According to Dementia Australia, about 28,300 people have early-onset Alzheimer’s disease in Australia and it tends to occur to people in their 40s and 50s. Keep in mind that this condition is relatively rare and makes up only 10% of all people with Alzheimer’s disease. That said, how can you tell if someone has simple forgetfulness or early-onset Alzheimer’s disease?

We spoke with medical experts who reveal the tell-tale signs and when they’re a cause for concern.

Memory loss is the most common symptom of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (and late-onset as well). It’s typically one of the first signs that something is wrong. Symptoms of early-onset Alzheimer’s – which are similar to those that appear in other cases of the condition – usually start when people are in their 40s or 50s, but memory loss is also a normal part of ageing.

“We don’t want to worry people that when they can’t remember a name or a word, that they’re on their way to Alzheimer’s,” says Dr Rudolph Tanzi, a professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School. “As we get older, our brain isn’t as good. Wear and tear, and inflammation, affect the brain much like it affects our joints.”

Memory issues that reflect normal ageing include things like not being able to remember details of a conversation or event that took place a year ago, or not being able to remember the name of an acquaintance. But signs of a cognitive problem might be not being able to recall details of recent events or conversations, or not recognising or knowing the names of family members.

Everyone misplaces things from time to time – phone, glasses, keys. The difference in people who might have early-onset Alzheimer’s or another cognitive problem is that these losses happen more frequently, and they’re unable to retrace their steps or think of where to look for the lost item. For example, if your car keys are in your other handbag, it’s probably no big deal. But if they turn up in the refrigerator, it could be cause for concern.

Try these 15 memory exercises proven to keep your brain sharp.

People with early-onset Alzheimer’s (or late-onset) may repeat statements and questions over and over, not realising that they’ve asked the same question before, according to the Alzheimer’s Association in the US. “The time to get worried,” says Dr Elise Caccappolo, director of the neuropsychology service and associate professor of neuropsychology at Columbia University Medical Center, “is when people repeat themselves within a very short time span.” An example would be if someone asks when a friend is coming to visit, gets told the answer, and then asks the same question a few minutes later without remembering that he or she had already inquired.

Many people with Alzheimer’s have difficulty sleeping, waking up more often, and staying awake longer during the night. Changes in sleep that might indicate early-onset Alzheimer’s include daytime napping and/or feeling drowsy during the day but being unable to sleep at night.

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“As a general rule, what I tell people is that as we age, many of us will experience the phenomenon of slower processing speed,” explains Dr Pierre Tariot, director of the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute in Phoenix. “We can’t manage complex intellectual challenges as quickly as we did in our youth.” Multitasking may become more difficult, doing mathematical calculations in your head may take more time, and balancing your bank account will be a bit slower than it used to be. But according to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, someone with early dementia may find it impossible to do everyday tasks – like working out a weekly budget – that once were easy. If someone used to be a gourmet cook and now has difficulty following a complex recipe, that can be a red flag, too.

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All of us occasionally forget an appointment, get lost when going somewhere new, or briefly think it’s Tuesday when actually it’s Wednesday. But a possible sign of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease is, say, forgetting the route to the supermarket where you shop weekly. People with the disease may have trouble understanding something if it isn’t happening immediately, and may sometimes forget where they are or how they got there. “You shouldn’t have confusion about where you are or what day it is from normal ageing,” says Caccappolo.

Up to 40 per cent of people with Alzheimer’s experience depression, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. “People with Alzheimer’s who are depressed tend to be apathetic and irritable and to have sleep disturbances, but they are less likely to feel guilty or have a risk of suicide than depressed people without Alzheimer’s.” Other changes in personality that might indicate early-onset Alzheimer’s include mood swings, anxiety, aggression, anger, fear, suspicion and loss of inhibitions.

Check out 15 things neurologists do to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

Nobody is perfect, and we all make bad choices on occasion. But people with early-onset Alzheimer’s may have poor judgment and start making bad decisions with greater consequences. They may spend money indiscriminately or even give it away; they could stop taking care of themselves (not showering regularly, for example).

Read more on how there is life beyond a dementia diagnosis.

People with signs of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease may have trouble participating in a conversation or writing down their thoughts. Most people will occasionally pause to search for the right word and eventually remember it. But someone with signs of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease may experience the problem frequently, substitute an inappropriate word for the one they can’t remember, or be unable to continue speaking because they don’t know what to say.

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