Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease is not common, and it’s difficult to diagnose, because of shared symptoms with many other diseases and disorders. However, early diagnosis is important, as early treatment may help manage further symptoms.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting up to 40% of those over 85. This disease changes behavior, cognition, and memory. Researchers have found that two proteins—beta-amyloid (plaque) and tau (tangles) damage nerves in the brain. As a progressive disease, symptoms become more apparent with time.
What is Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease?
When someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease before the age of 65, we know it as early-onset (or young-onset) Alzheimer’s disease. Many develop symptoms of this rare form at around 30 or 40.
Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease is more aggressive and progresses quickly. It’s challenging to diagnose as many symptoms reflect the stress of everyday life events, so knowing the signs can help get the best care for you or a loved one.
Early-onset Alzheimers comes in two categories:
• Sporadic Alzheimer’s – Sporadic Alzheimer’s is the name given to a type of Alzheimer’s that affects people with no known family history, no known genetic link, no known risk factors.
• Familial Alzheimer’s Disease – is where symptoms may show up much sooner for those with a gene mutation that directly contributes towards this type of neurological disorder
What Causes Early-Onset Alzheimers Disease
The exact cause of early-onset Alzheimer’s isn’t known. However, scientists now understand that one of the leading causes is mutations in three genes responsible for X-chromosome production.
Although it is not as common as other forms, early-onset Alzheimer’s disease significantly affects brain health and can happen to anyone.
Common Signs of Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease
Forgetfulness
Memory loss is strongly associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Repeatedly forgetting important information or dates is a sign of memory loss. Forgetfulness might present itself with someone constantly asking for the same information, losing track of time, misplacing things, or confusion about where they are or how they got there. They may also have difficulty remembering names or words for everyday items.
The normal day-to-day forgetfulness everyone experiences differs from dementia, as normal forgetfulness is usually due to a lack of focus. At the same time, the memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease gets progressively worse.
Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease is a rare early stage of Alzheimer’s disease. If you or a family member are struggling with this diagnosis, take the time to learn more about it and find out your treatment options.
Difficulty Completing Familiar Tasks
As the plaque builds and more tangles occur, the brain stops functioning as it used to. You or a loved one may begin having problems maintaining monthly bills, working with numbers or dates, or get lost while driving a familiar route. Other routine tasks like bathing, eating, or drinking can be lost as it’s common to lose track or misunderstand the passage of time.
One of the early signs of Alzheimer’s is the inability to care for personal hygiene. It may be challenging to convince your loved one to bathe, brush their teeth, or change their clothes. Critical-thinking skills are also impaired, making tasks requiring judgment take longer.
Personality Changes
It can be not very comforting to find yourself in a place or situation you can’t remember getting yourself into. Over time and as the brain further degenerates, this fear and confusion lead to drastic mood and personality changes. This kind of deep confusion triggers the amygdala to activate motor functions and release stress hormones. Common mood changes include withdrawal from social activities, aggression, fear or confusion, and depression.
Forgetting someone’s name or a word you’ve used your whole life can be highly frustrating for those with Alzheimer’s. If you notice yourself or a loved one getting “overly” worked up over forgetting something small, it may be a sign of Alzheimer’s. Similarly, a misplaced item could be mistaken by someone with Alzheimer’s as theft. It is common for those with Alzheimer’s to be suspicious of friends, family, or caregivers because they cannot trust their memories.
Conclusion to Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease
Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease symptoms may show up much sooner for those with a gene mutation that directly contributes towards this type of neurological disorder.
If you notice these symptoms in yourself or a loved one, it may be time to talk to a doctor. Getting proper care is paramount to living the most comfortable life.
If you or someone in your family has been diagnosed with this condition, knowing the next steps for living with and managing the symptoms is tough. To learn more about how Applewood Our House can help, contact us today.
