The first sign of Alzheimer’s disease is usually short-term memory loss. You may not notice you’re having issues remembering things. Sometimes it’s more obvious to friends or family members.   

Common Symptoms

Other signs of Alzheimer’s disease may include:

• Memory loss 
• Disorientation and confusion 
• Mood and behavior changes 
• Difficulty completing familiar tasks 
• Poor judgment  
• Getting lost in a familiar place 
• Difficulty expressing oneself 

The exact causes of Alzheimer’s disease are unknown. But scientists believe it occurs when two proteins fail to function properly. This damages neurons and causes them to die over time. The two proteins are:

Several factors can increase your risk of Alzheimer’s disease, including:

To diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, your provider will perform a physical and neurological exam. We will also ask about your symptoms and medical history. If we think you may have Alzheimer’s disease, we may order additional tests.

A blood test will help us rule out other potential causes of your symptoms. We will also order images of your brain, such as a CT scan or an MRI, to see possible changes caused by Alzheimer’s. We may also ask you to take a cognitive test to check your memory and assess other thinking skills.  

There is no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease. But there are medications we can prescribe to help reduce your symptoms, such as:

Alzheimer’s disease cannot be prevented. But there are things you can do to reduce your risk, such as: