Content
Early Alzheimer's, or as it is also called, "pre-senile dementia", is an inherited genetic disease that begins before age 65, usually between the ages of 30 and 50, and happens due to the excess of a protein called tau and amyloid-beta in the brain, specifically in the part responsible for speech and memory.
Early Alzheimer's leads to loss of cognition and its main symptoms are failure or memory loss, but mental confusion, aggression and difficulty in doing daily routine activities may also be present.
When the first symptoms appear, they are often confused with stress and distraction, which is why it is very important to be aware, especially when there is a family history of the disease, since the diagnosis at the beginning is important so that the person can be treated before the worsening of the symptoms. symptoms, in addition to the disease being more easily controlled.
Main symptoms
Alzheimer's causes loss of cognition quickly and for no apparent reason, making the following symptoms visible:
- Forgetting common things, like having lunch or not;
- Frequent memory failures, such as leaving home and forgetting the path to where you would go;
- Mental confusion, like not knowing where you are or what you were doing at the place;
- Store objects in inappropriate places, such as the phone inside the refrigerator;
- Be silent for long periods in the middle of a conversation;
- Insomnia, difficulty sleeping or several nighttime awakenings;
- Difficulty in making simple accounts, such as 3 x 4, or thinking logically;
- Loss of movement, such as difficulty in standing up alone;
- Anguish and depression, as sadness that does not pass and the desire to isolate oneself;
- Hypersexuality, with masturbation in public or inappropriate speech;
- Excessive irritability for not remembering certain things or not understanding a certain situation;
- Aggressiveness, like hitting family and friends, throwing things at a wall or floor;
- Apathy, as if nothing else matters.
If there is a suspicion of Alzheimer's in yourself or someone close to you, the following test addresses 10 questions about everyday life, which shows whether there is really a risk of being Alzheimer's:
Rapid Alzheimer's test. Take the test or find out what your risk of having this disease is.
Start the test
Is your memory good?
- I have a good memory, although there are small forgetfulnesses that do not interfere with my daily life.
- Sometimes I forget things like the question they asked me, I forget commitments and where I left the keys.
- I usually forget what I went to do in the kitchen, in the living room, or in the bedroom and also what I was doing.
- I can't remember simple and recent information like the name of someone I just met, even if I try hard.
- It is impossible to remember where I am and who are the people around me.
Do you know what day it is?
- I am usually able to recognize people, places and know what day it is.
- I don't remember very well what day it is and I have a slight difficulty saving dates.
- I'm not sure what month it is, but I'm able to recognize familiar places, but I'm a little confused in new places and I can get lost.
- I don't remember exactly who my family members are, where I live and I don't remember anything from my past.
- All I know is my name, but sometimes I remember the names of my children, grandchildren or other relatives
Are you still able to make decisions?
- I am fully capable of solving everyday problems and deal well with personal and financial issues.
- I have some difficulty understanding some abstract concepts like why a person can be sad, for example.
- I'm feeling a little insecure and I'm afraid to make decisions and that's why I prefer others to decide for me.
- I don't feel able to solve any problem and the only decision I make is what I want to eat.
- I am unable to make any decisions and I am totally dependent on the help of others.
Do you still have an active life outside the home?
- Yes, I can work normally, I shop, I am involved with the community, the church and other social groups.
- Yes, but I am starting to have some difficulty driving but I still feel safe and know how to handle emergency or unplanned situations.
- Yes, but I am unable to be alone in important situations and I need someone to accompany me on social commitments to be able to appear as a "normal" person to others.
- No, I don't leave the house alone because I don't have the capacity and I always need help.
- No, I am unable to leave the house alone and I am too sick to do so.
How are your skills at home?
- Great. I still have chores around the house, I have hobbies and personal interests.
- I no longer feel like doing anything at home, but if they insist, I can try to do something.
- I completely abandoned my activities, as well as more complex hobbies and interests.
- All I know is to bathe alone, get dressed and watch TV and I am not able to do any other chores around the house.
- I am not able to do anything alone and I need help with everything.
How's your personal hygiene?
- I am fully capable of taking care of myself, dressing, washing, showering and using the bathroom.
- I am starting to have some difficulty taking care of my own personal hygiene.
- I need others to remind me that I have to go to the bathroom, but I can handle my needs myself.
- I need help getting dressed and cleaning myself and sometimes I pee on clothes.
- I can't do anything alone and I need someone else to take care of my personal hygiene.
Is your behavior changing?
- I have normal social behavior and there are no changes in my personality.
- I have small changes in my behavior, personality and emotional control.
- My personality is changing little by little, before I was very friendly and now I am a bit grumpy.
- They say that I have changed a lot and I am no longer the same person and I am already avoided by my old friends, neighbors and distant relatives.
- My behavior changed a lot and I became a difficult and unpleasant person.
Can you communicate well?
- I have no difficulty speaking or writing.
- I am starting to have some difficulty finding the right words and it takes me longer to complete my reasoning.
- It is increasingly difficult to find the right words and I have been having difficulty naming objects and I notice that I have less vocabulary.
- It is very difficult to communicate, I have difficulty with words, to understand what they say to me and I do not know how to read or write.
- I just can't communicate, I say almost nothing, I don't write and I don't really understand what they tell me.
How's your mood?
- Normal, I don't notice any change in my mood, interest or motivation.
- Sometimes I get sad, nervous, anxious or depressed, but without major worries in life.
- I get sad, nervous or anxious every day and this has become more and more frequent.
- Every day I feel sad, nervous, anxious or depressed and I have no interest or motivation to carry out any task.
- Sadness, depression, anxiety and nervousness are my daily companions and I totally lost my interest in things and I am no longer motivated for anything.
Can you focus and pay attention?
- I have perfect attention, good concentration and great interaction with everything around me.
- I'm starting to have a hard time paying attention to something and I get drowsy during the day.
- I have some difficulty in attention and little concentration, so I can stare at a point or with my eyes closed for a while, even without sleeping.
- I spend a good part of the day sleeping, I don't pay attention to anything and when I talk I say things that are not logical or that have nothing to do with the topic of the conversation.
- I can't pay attention to anything and I am completely unfocused.
At what age does early Alzheimer's appear?
Normally early Alzheimer's appears between 30 and 50 years old, however there is no exact age to start, as there are reports of appearance at both 27 and 51 years old, so it is recommended for people who have a family history, be aware symptoms, as they can often be overlooked and confused with stress and distraction.
In the case of early Alzheimer's, the symptoms of the disease set in much faster than in the elderly and the inability to take care of oneself appears very early. Know how to recognize Alzheimer's symptoms in the elderly.
Thus, if there is the slightest suspicion of having this disease, it is indicated that a neurologist should be sought to obtain the correct diagnosis and start the appropriate treatment as soon as possible, as this way, despite the fact that there is no cure, it can have its delayed evolution.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of early Alzheimer's is made by observing the signs and symptoms of the disease, excluding other types of dementia, tests of memory and cognition, reports from the person and family and proof of brain impairment through imaging tests, such as MRI (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) of the skull.
How the treatment is done
Currently, there is no treatment for early Alzheimer's, the neurologist who accompanies the case may prescribe drugs to reduce the impact of symptoms on the person's life, such as donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine or memantine, which help maintain mental cognitive functions.
In addition to medications to improve the quality of sleep and mood for example, and indication for psychotherapy to start. It may also be recommended to change the diet, giving preference to natural foods and including physical activities in the daily routine.