can also have unrelated causes.
Language Changes Can Be Subtle
Family members may notice these difficulties before the individual recognizes them.
A previously fluent speaker may use increasingly vague language, repeat the same phrases, or withdraw from conversations because keeping up has become difficult.
Hearing impairment can sometimes resemble cognitive difficulty because a person who cannot clearly hear a conversation may appear confused or respond inappropriately. For this reason, hearing and other potentially reversible contributors may be considered during an evaluation.
Memory and language changes may be the most recognizable signs, but difficulties with planning and everyday tasks can sometimes reveal a cognitive change in ways that ordinary forgetfulness does not.
3. Difficulty Planning, Organizing, or Solving Familiar Problems
Alzheimer’s disease can affect executive functions—the mental abilities involved in planning, organizing, concentrating, solving problems, and carrying out a sequence of steps.
Someone may begin having trouble following a familiar recipe,
