Symptoms usually begin with impairment of memory, especially for recent events. Other symptoms include misplacing objects and getting lost. With time, patients become increasingly confused and disoriented. They may have difficulty finding words in conversation. Personality and behavioral changes, such as agitation, depression, and delusions may occur.
Judgment often becomes impaired.
As the disease progresses, individuals become increasingly dependent on others. The symptoms of AD can vary somewhat in their order of appearance and degree of severity. When symptoms are noticed an individual should receive a complete physical as well as psychiatric and neurological evaluation by a physician experienced in diagnosing dementing disorders. A complete neurologic evaluation may indicate a diagnosis of AD, although laboratory studies are often conducted to rule out other conditions that may have similar symptoms. Knowledge gained from studying AD at the genetic level may eventually lead to diagnostic testing and, in the future, clinical treatment.