Being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s can be overwhelming and frightening. Adding to the emotional impact, the disease itself causes brain changes that cause anxiety, depression, and sleeplessness.
Alzheimer’s is a very slowly progressing disease. You have time to learn, plan, and adjust. If you’ve been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and told about it, you are in good medical hands already.
Understanding the common symptoms and their impact and treatment can help you prepare for the changes ahead.
Memory problems, particularly in terms of remembering recent events or conversations, are often the earliest and most prominent symptoms. This can manifest in many ways, including difficulties:
Coming up with the right words
Remembering names when introduced to new people
Performing tasks in work or social settings
Remembering material that you just read
Keeping track of where important or valuable items are
Making plans and staying organized
Language and conversations are typically more challenging for people newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Struggling to find the right words, having trouble following or joining conversations, and frequently pausing when speaking are a few things you might experience. You may also have difficulties with writing or spelling.Additionally, you might find it challenging to solve problems or follow a sequence of steps (such as cooking a meal). This cognitive decline can affect your ability to make decisions and judge situations, potentially leading to unsafe scenarios. You also may struggle with managing your finances (such as handling money and paying bills), health, and personal hygiene.Other symptoms can include:
Frequently repeating questions
Taking longer than usual to complete tasks
Changes in mood and behavior, such as getting upset or worried more easily and having fear, depression, or anxiety
Problems with depth perception, judging distances, navigation, and accurately determining color
These symptoms can significantly affect your daily life and independence.
Feelings of frustration, helplessness, and sadness are common when you face challenges remembering and completing tasks. Social interactions can become challenging due to difficulties in communication and changes in behavior. You may want to withdraw from social activities to avoid embarrassment, but staying engaged is crucial for brain and emotional health.Cognitive decline increases the risk of accidents, such as falling, getting lost, or mishandling medications. And because it can make managing finances more challenging, it’s important to have financial and legal plans in place, such as power of attorney, to ensure your wishes are followed.
Understanding these symptoms and their potential impact helps you and your loved ones prepare for and adapt to the changes ahead, ensuring you maintain the best possible quality of life.
There’s no cure for Alzheimer’s, but several medications can help manage symptoms or even slow disease progression.
One of the hallmark brain changes in Alzheimer’s is the buildup of amyloid plaques. Two of the drugs listed, lecanemab and donanemab, are approved to treat the underlying biology of Alzheimer’s by targeting the protein beta-amyloid.Another drug, aducanumab (Aduhelm), had been approved to treat Alzheimer’s by targeting beta-amyloid, but its manufacturer (Biogen) has discontinued the medication.
Read more about treatments for Alzheimer’s.
Lifestyle Changes You Can Make Right Away
Along with taking medications, there are lifestyle changes you can make to help improve Alzheimer’s disease symptoms or slow the progression:
Exercise regularly (aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day).
Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.
Don’t smoke.
Limit alcohol intake.
Maintain healthy sleep patterns.
Engage in brain games that challenge your mind, such as doing puzzles, learning new skills, and reading.
Remove household hazards that could lead to falls and injuries.
Stay engaged by participating in social activities and staying connected with friends and family.
Treat hearing problems, which can make it more difficult to interact with others.
Manage underlying comorbidities, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.
Live your life, do activities you enjoy, and don’t aim for perfection.
While Alzheimer’s disease isn’t likely to cause urgent medical issues in and of itself, you should be on the lookout for other medical problems that may develop over time. These issues are treatable, but they can worsen symptoms quickly if not addressed. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience or see signs of:
Infection, especially flu and pneumonia, which may cause aches and pains, chills, fever, vomiting, and trouble breathing, as it can cause delirium
Falls and injuries
Dehydration, which may show up as dry mouth, dizziness, hallucinations, and rapid heart rate
Constipation, diarrhea, or incontinence, which may be an indication of other underlying issues, such as medication reactions, a urinary tract infection, or untreated diabetes
Dental issues, such as tooth decay or lumps and sores in your mouth
Severe behavioral changes, such as sudden, severe aggression, agitation, or hallucinations
Your care team will include various specialists to help manage different aspects of the disease, led by your primary care physician, who oversees your overall health and coordinates care. Other members of your care team might include:
Neurologist This specialist focuses on diseases of the brain and nervous system.
Geriatrician Because Alzheimer’s disease primarily affects older adults, it’s vital to have a physician on your team who specializes in assessing and managing medical issues affecting older adults.
Psychiatrist or Psychologist These professionals can help you manage mood and behavior changes through medications and psychosocial or psychotherapy treatment. You may also want the help of a neuropsychologist, who is trained to evaluate cognitive disorders and assess the severity of memory loss and other symptoms.
Occupational Therapist Your safety is an occupational therapist’s biggest concern, and this specialist can assist you with adapting your home and environment to the condition.
Social Worker or Geriatric Care Manager These caregivers can provide resources and other forms of support for you and your family.
Speech and Language Therapist Given that language and conversation can become difficult with Alzheimer’s, it’s important to have a speech and language therapist on your team to help you with any communication difficulties you may experience. They can also help if you start to experience any issues with swallowing or eating.
Your Support Network Don’t forget about your family members, close friends, and neighbors, who can help you with day-to-day challenges.
Support groups can help you better navigate life with Alzheimer’s and deal with the day-to-day struggles associated with the condition. Here are some organizations that may help:
Alzheimer’s Association This organization provides comprehensive support and information for people with Alzheimer’s and their loved ones, including a 24/7 helpline, local support groups, and comprehensive information about the disease.
Alzheimers.gov This website, managed by the National Institute on Aging (which also offers a lot of resources for Alzheimer’s support), provides a wealth of information about the disease, a clinical trial finder tool, and links to helpful community resources, nonprofit organizations, social services programs, and federally funded resources.
Being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease can feel overwhelming, particularly since there is no cure for this progressive disease.
Once the initial shock has diminished, though, it’s time to plan and prepare — with your doctor, for treatment options; with your family or close friends, for social and practical support; and with other members of your care team, for the support and resources they can offer.
Let your medical team and social circle know how you’d like to live and be treated as you cope with Alzheimer’s disease.
