4 Little-Known Signs of Alzheimer's Disease

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These warning signs can easily be mistaken for something else.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for up to 80 percent of all dementia cases.

It is thought to be caused by an abnormal buildup of proteins in and around brain cells. The well-known signs that many of us associate with the disease include memory problems, such as forgetting names or recent conversations. However, there are some lesser-known signs that may indicate Alzheimer's disease.

Hearing Loss

Losing your loved one's hearing may be a typical sign of aging, but it may be more than that.

A growing body of research suggests that people with hearing loss are at increased risk for developing dementia. In fact, research has shown that untreated hearing loss is one of the biggest modifiable risk factors for developing dementia. Research is still ongoing, but one suspected cause is the social isolation that hearing loss can cause, which can lead to cognitive decline associated with dementia.

In addition, the cognitive strain caused by mild hearing loss can contribute to cognitive decline over time, as resources are diverted from other cognitive tasks such as understanding speech and following conversations.

Some research has shown that untreated hearing loss can lead to changes in the brain that may be associated with cognitive impairment and the onset of dementia.

Depression

Up to 40 percent of people with Alzheimer's disease suffer from depression.

In many cases, people living with dementia may experience depression due to feelings of social isolation and loneliness. But research also shows that people who suffer from depression in midlife have a 70 to 80 percent increased risk of developing dementia later in life.

Problems with spatial understanding

A person with dementia may have trouble judging space and distances.

“Dementia can damage the occipital lobes, the part of the brain that processes information about three-dimensional objects. This can lead to difficulties with visualizing and perceiving space, which means that people with Alzheimer's may have difficulty with spatial perception or the ability to accurately judge distances.”

This can manifest itself in difficulty using stairs, parking a car, or recognizing objects.

Social isolation

A third of people with mild to moderate dementia experience loneliness.

This is because, as mentioned above, people with dementia can have difficulty socializing. Isolation can occur due to memory loss, confusion, difficulty performing routine daily tasks, and trying to follow conversations.

Lists symptoms of Alzheimer's disease:

• Memory loss
• Confusion, disorientation, and getting lost in familiar places
• Problems with planning or making decisions
• Problems with speech and language
• Problems with getting around without help or performing self-care tasks
• Personality changes, such as being aggressive, demanding, and suspicious of others
• Hallucinations and delusions (believing things that are not true)
• Poor mood or anxiety.

If someone you know is showing signs of Alzheimer's disease, you should seek medical attention.