Do These Seven Signs Mean Someone Has Alzheimer’s?
No. These signs are reasons to consider further evaluation, not a diagnostic checklist.
Many conditions can produce memory and thinking difficulties that resemble dementia.
Possible contributors include:
- Depression and anxiety
- Sleep disorders
- Medication side effects
- Alcohol or substance use
- Vitamin deficiencies
- Thyroid disorders
- Hearing or vision impairment
- Infections and acute illness
- Other neurological disorders
Some causes may be treatable or manageable, which is an important reason to seek an assessment rather than assuming that memory loss is simply an unavoidable part of aging.
What About Mild Cognitive Impairment?
Mild cognitive impairment, commonly abbreviated MCI, describes measurable problems with memory or other cognitive abilities that are greater than expected for age but do not necessarily prevent a person from carrying out most everyday activities independently.
MCI can have different causes and outcomes.
Some people with MCI later develop dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, while
