About the Earlier Stages of Alzheimer’s
What is Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that affects how a person thinks, remembers and behaves. It progresses in stages, with symptoms that can gradually advance over time.
Most people associate Alzheimer’s with its later stages — when symptoms are more severe and require a greater level of care. But the disease can begin much earlier, and can look very different, than many people realize. Changes in the brain can start years before serious memory problems or daily challenges appear.
“My personal journey has led to intentional choices, both for myself and to contribute to the greater good. I’ve committed to engaging in activities I genuinely enjoy.”
Alzheimer’s includes multiple earlier stages — and they don’t look the same for everybody.
Some people who test positive for Alzheimer’s may not experience any noticeable change to how they think or function on a daily basis. However, others living with earlier stage disease may have more noticeable symptoms.
People living with the earlier stages of Alzheimer’s who have symptoms may experience things like forgetting names, repeating questions, misplacing items or pulling back from social activities and hobbies they once loved.
Understanding these experiences paints a fuller picture of Alzheimer’s — one that goes beyond what most people associate with the disease.
Progress in diagnosis and treatment is transforming Alzheimer’s care.
Decades of research have transformed what we know about Alzheimer’s, leading to advances in how the disease is detected, understood and treated. Today, people living with the earlier stages of the disease have more opportunities to manage their health after diagnosis.
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