Mailbag: 7 Alzheimer’s Early Warning Signs
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted February 6, 2024
“I’ve been more forgetful lately. Is this a normal part of aging or could it be early Alzheimer’s?”
– Martha
Hi Martha,
Feeling more forgetful can be frustrating. Sometimes, it can even be frightening.
But it’s NOT necessarily an early sign of Alzheimer’s.
You see, as we age, we accumulate a LOT of information to store away in our memory.
That means it sometimes takes a while to find the exact “files in the filing cabinet” you’re looking for or to sort through all those noisy details to remember something you need to do.
Stress (including the good kind from POSITIVE life events) can also cause us to become more absentminded.
But there are some early warning signs of dementia we should all be on the lookout for.
- Mood changes: We all have days when we’re in a good or bad mood. But the shift in mood that’s sometimes seen with Alzheimer’s is generally for the worse (grumpier, sadder, more negative) and doesn’t improve.
- Memory loss: Everyone forgets from time to time where they put their keys or the name of someone they met a week ago. The memory loss I’m talking about is frequently forgetting newly-learned information or needing to rely on notes (or your phone) to keep you organized.
- Loss of problem-solving skills: If you’re suddenly unable to do something you know how to do or mastered long ago, it could be an Alzheimer’s red flag. For example, I’m great at directions, and my wife is fantastic at remembering faces. If you were to challenge her with directions and me with faces, we’d both fail. But if I started having trouble finding my way home or she was suddenly unable to recall friends’ faces, that could be a sign of a problem.
- Difficulty speaking: If you suddenly find yourself searching for words and using phrases like “what’s his name” or “that thingamajig,” often you might have aphasia (trouble finding the right word). This can be an early sign of the brain dysfunction seen with Alzheimer’s.
- Time/place confusion: We all forget an appointment occasionally, but missing many appointments, not knowing the season, or forgetting something that happened last week can all be signs of brain problems.
- Visual issues: New vision problems such as judging distances or determining colors can be another early warning sign of Alzheimer’s.
- Withdrawal from activities: If someone you know stops participating in their everyday activities, it can be a sign of early-onset Alzheimer’s. (But it’s also a common sign of depression.)
However, spotting the red flags in yourself can sometimes be challenging. So, go ahead and share this list with a loved one as well. That way, you can be each other’s “second set of eyes.”
If you find you or a loved one experiencing any of these common signs, don’t panic. They can also be indicators of other issues, from stress to infections.
Instead, make an appointment with your doctor to discuss them and have testing done if there are still concerns.
P.S. Down a (DELICIOUS) daily mug of Alzheimer’s prevention.
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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