Memory Digest

10 Early Warning Signs of Alzheimer's and Dementia

The early signs that memory changes may be more than normal aging, with examples—and what to do next.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Changes in memory and thinking can creep in slowly, and it's easy to explain them away. The Alzheimer's Association describes 10 early warning signs. Each is listed below with a typical age-related change for comparison. Having one or two "normal" slips is common; a pattern of the more serious signs is a reason to see a doctor.

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life

Forgetting recently learned information, important dates or events; asking the same questions over and over; relying more and more on notes, phones or family members for things you used to handle.

Typical age-related change: sometimes forgetting names or appointments but remembering them later.

2. Challenges in planning or solving problems

Trouble following a familiar recipe, keeping track of monthly bills, or working with numbers. Tasks take much longer than before.

Typical: making occasional errors when managing finances.

3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks

Trouble driving to a familiar place, organizing a grocery list, or remembering the rules of a favorite game.

Typical: occasionally needing help with microwave settings or recording a TV show.

4. Confusion with time or place

Losing track of dates, seasons and the passage of time; forgetting where you are or how you got there.

Typical: getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later.

5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships

For some people, vision-related problems are an early sign: difficulty with balance, reading, judging distance, or recognizing colors and contrast, which can cause problems with driving.

Typical: vision changes related to cataracts.

6. New problems with words in speaking or writing

Trouble following or joining a conversation; stopping mid-sentence with no idea how to continue; repeating themselves; struggling with vocabulary or calling things by the wrong name (a "watch" becomes a "hand clock").

Typical: sometimes having trouble finding the right word.

7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps

Putting things in unusual places (keys in the refrigerator), losing things and being unable to retrace steps to find them, and sometimes accusing others of stealing.

Typical: misplacing things from time to time and retracing steps to find them.

8. Decreased or poor judgment

Changes in decision-making—for example, giving large amounts of money to telemarketers, paying less attention to grooming, or dressing inappropriately for the weather.

Typical: making a bad decision once in a while.

9. Withdrawal from work or social activities

Pulling back from hobbies, social activities, or other engagements; having trouble keeping up with a favorite team or activity.

Typical: sometimes feeling uninterested in family or social obligations.

10. Changes in mood and personality

Becoming confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious; getting easily upset at home, with friends, or when out of the comfort zone.

Typical: developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted.

Other signs worth noticing

Different dementias can begin differently. Watch also for:

• Personality or behavior changes in midlife—impulsiveness, loss of empathy, compulsive eating (possible Frontotemporal Dementia)
• Visual hallucinations, fluctuating alertness, or acting out dreams in sleep (possible Lewy Body Dementia)
• Slowed thinking, walking problems and incontinence (possible Vascular Dementia or normal pressure hydrocephalus)
• Getting lost while driving or walking in familiar areas

Often, others notice first

People developing dementia frequently don't recognize their own symptoms—a brain-based change called anosognosia. Family, friends and coworkers may be the first to notice. If someone you love shows these signs, gently share specific examples and encourage a check-up.

What to do next

1. Write down what you've noticed, with examples and when they started.
2. Make an appointment with a primary care doctor. Bring a list of all medicines and, if possible, a family member or friend.
3. Ask about treatable causes such as medication side effects, vitamin B12 deficiency, thyroid problems, depression and sleep apnea (see Reversible Causes of Memory Problems).
4. Ask about a referral to a neurologist, geriatrician or memory clinic if needed.

Sudden confusion over hours or days is different—it may be delirium, which needs urgent medical attention.

Early diagnosis gives the best chance to treat reversible causes, start treatments that work best early, join research, and plan for the future. See Getting a Diagnosis. For support, call the Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900.

Sources

1. Alzheimer's Association: 10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer's
2. National Institute on Aging: Alzheimer's Disease Fact Sheet
3. CDC: Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer's

Not medical advice. This article is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual. Talk with a doctor about your situation.

Related articles

• Normal Aging vs. Memory Problems
• Getting a Diagnosis
• Alzheimer's Disease
• Stages of Dementia
• Sundowning