The symptoms that occur, when they occur and how long they last will vary in each case. Early stage Early in the disease, short-term memory loss occurs. During this stage, subtle changes in personality may occur. The person may also not be able to adapt to changes in old routines. Memory loss in itself is not a sign of Alzheimer's disease.
Most people normally have some memory loss as they age.
In Alzheimer's disease, the problem will worsen steadily. Although symptoms may seem to come on quite quickly, the problem often builds very slowly. Many times the symptoms are first noticed after the person has been under some strain. Depression is one of the more common symptoms in the early stage of the disease. The signs of depression may include seeming sadder, quieter or more negative than usual, sleeping too much or too little, losing an unusual amount of weight, drinking more than usual or not seeming aware of or interested in things.