A leading dementia doctor has revealed the four subtle signs of Alzheimer’s that can strike decades before a diagnosis.
When this happens, the condition is known as ‘frontal variant Alzheimer’s disease’ (fvAD).
The third unnerving symptom Dr Amen talks about involves developing a shorter attention span and being distracted more easily.
Moving to his fourth indicator, Dr Amen warns viewers in a TikTok to watch out for ‘low mood’.
He reveals: ‘Depression doubles the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in women and quadruples the risk in men.
The four subtle signs of Alzheimer’s that can appear decades before a diagnosis has been identified by a top dementia specialist.
According to California-based physician Daniel Amen, who operates several clinics throughout the United States, the debilitating illness “actually starts in the brain decades before you have any symptoms.”. “.”.
Your memory getting worse, however, is the first and most typical early warning sign, according to the doctor.
“Eighty percent of people who say their memory is worse than it was ten years ago have an 80 percent chance that it will continue to get worse,” he explains. “…
According to the National Institute of Aging, memory issues linked to the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease include “a decline in non-memory aspects of cognition, such as finding the right word, trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships, and impaired reasoning or judgment.”. “.”.
Additionally, it states: “Symptoms worsen with the disease’s progression, including increased confusion and behavioral changes.”. “.”.
According to Dr. Amen, “poor judgment and impulsivity” are the second early warning sign.
He claims that this is because the disease is causing the frontal lobes, the largest brain lobes responsible for behavior and emotions that are situated directly behind the forehead, to “decrease in activity.” He compares it to “your brain going offline.”.
Just about 1 in 50 individuals with Alzheimer’s disease discover early on that their frontal lobes are impacted.
This is referred to as “frontal variant Alzheimer’s disease” (fvAD).
The third disturbing symptom that Dr. Amen discusses is becoming more easily distracted and having a shorter attention span.
His description of this trait is as follows: “[It is] not like ADHD, that you have had it your entire life, but it seems to be accelerating.”. “.”.
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Ruth Drew, director of client and information services for the Alzheimer’s Association, discusses the reasons behind this: “Alzheimer’s disease attacks the brain, and it tends to start in the hippocampus where new memory and new learning are stored, so anything that disrupts that could definitely make it more difficult for a person to hold on to a train of thought.”.
Each person experiences it differently. By the middle [stages] of the illness, concentration will undoubtedly suffer. “…
As he moves on to his fourth indicator, Dr. Amen cautions TikTok users to be on the lookout for “low mood.”.
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, determining the cause of depression in dementia patients is difficult.
According to the article, “the difficulties of living with dementia can lead to feelings of deep sadness or hopelessness for many people.”.
Furthermore, the illnesses that lead to dementia may harm the brain regions responsible for emotions and behavior. “.”.
Following a discussion of the four primary warning indicators, Dr. Amen goes over some of the factors that may make you more susceptible to the illness.
He discloses that the risk of Alzheimer’s disease is quadrupled for men and doubled for women who suffer from depression.
Obesity or excess weight [raises the risk]. The size and functionality of your brain decreases as your weight increases.
That’s the reason I’m trim. Anything that intentionally harms my brain is not something I want to do. “.”.
He also lists a few other disorders that may contribute to poor brain health, such as sleep apnea, chronic insomnia, and erectile dysfunction, “because if you have blood flow problems anywhere, it means they’re everywhere.”.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are currently about 7 million Americans who have Alzheimer’s, and with an aging population, that number is predicted to rise to almost 13 million by 2050.
About 10% of men and 5% of women are affected by the illness.
Marvel actor Chris Hemsworth, 40, underwent genetic testing in 2022 and discovered he was at risk of developing the disease.
He has gained notoriety in the battle against dementia.
He encourages others to go to the doctor on a regular basis and freely shares information about his wellness and health practices.
Even though dementia is a very common disease, little is known about its causes or progression; however, ongoing scientific research aims to provide a breakthrough.
