Withdrawal from work or social activities –The person with AD may be uninterested in activities he or she once found pleasurable such as hobbies, work projects, social activities and sports. There may be a genuine lack of interest, something the person may or may not be aware of.
The Alzheimer’s sufferer may shy away from social situations and have problems joining or following conversations. "We all forget the exact details of a conversation or what someone told us to do, but a person with AD will forget what just happened, what someone just said, or what he or she just said and therefore repeat things over and over again," says Lisa P. Gwyther, co-author of The Alzheimer's Action Plan: A Family Guide. He may express weariness of work, family or social obligations.
Changes in mood or personality – In this category, there’s a laundry list of possible AD-related symptoms. Forty percent of Alzheimer’s patients suffer from depression. Changes also include: confusion, anxiety, suspicion of strangers and family alike, fearfulness, mood swings, delusions, wandering, loss of inhibitions and disorientation. A person may get easily upset, especially in a new situation or place. This could be very stressful for the AD sufferer. Because of the need to control situations as much as possible, the person tends to develop very specific plans to do things and becomes irritated when these plans are not adhered to.
There are also two other personality-altering traits: “sundowning” and “shadowing.” Sundowning” is when a person with AD gets more restless, anxious, confused, agitated or disoriented as the day goes by. “Shadowing” occurs when the patient becomes increasingly needy and clingy towards a specific person, as a child would, over the course of the day.
Now that you know the warning signs of Alzheimer’s, early diagnosis offers the best opportunity for treatment, support and future planning. Don’t wait for symptoms to become so apparent as to become undeniable. Early intervention may result in symptom-slowing medications such as antidepressants, anxiolytics (meds to treat anxiety and restlessness) and anti-psychotic drugs. See your doctor if any of the above signs seem to be getting worse or you notice a combination of symptoms knocking about your brother, parent, grandparent, sister or child.