Symptoms
Alzheimer's disease
In this section:
Alzheimer's disease symptoms
Early symptoms of Alzheimer’s are not always obvious. This is because Alzheimer’s often develops slowly over several years.
It can be hard to tell the difference between early Alzheimer’s and mild forgetfulness that happens as we get older.
If symptoms start to affect daily life, or get worse, it’s important to talk to a GP as soon as possible
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Early symptoms of Alzheimer’s may include:
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Regularly forgetting recent events, names, faces and recently learned information.
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Becoming more and more repetitive, e.g. repeating the same question or repeating behaviours and routines.
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Regularly misplacing items or putting them in odd places.
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Getting confused about the date or time of day.
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Becoming confused about where they are or getting lost, particularly in familiar places.
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Problems finding the right words, understanding the meaning of words or following conversations.
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Some people become low in mood, anxious or agitated.
Others may lose self-confidence, show less interest in what’s happening around them and in doing activities they would usually enjoy.
Below you can hear about from Zac about his dad Imran's early symptoms.
No two people experience dementia the same. If you are worried about any of the symptoms mentioned on this page, talk to your doctor.
Each person’s experience of dementia is different. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease. So, symptoms will get worse over time. How quickly this happens varies between people. But everyone with Alzheimer’s will need more support doing everyday tasks and an increasing amount of care as time goes on.
As Alzheimer's progresses, symptoms may include:
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Finding that memory, thinking, or decision‑making problems make daily life harder.
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Finding familiar tasks, such as using the phone or making a hot drink, become harder.
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Changes in sleep, such as waking often at night or sleeping more during the day.
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Struggling more with speaking and understanding others.
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Becoming more restless, anxious, or aggressive. Some people may also feel suspicious or fearful of others.
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Having more difficulty walking, becoming unsteady on their feet, or finding swallowing harder.
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Seeing or hearing things that aren’t there (hallucinations).
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Gradually needing more help with daily activities like dressing, eating and using the toilet.
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Developing problems with reading, writing, or using numbers.
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Having difficulty recognising familiar faces or everyday objects.
In the video below, Zac explains how his dad's symptoms progressed over time.
You can also hear from Chris, Deborah and Geoff below, about how Alzheimer's symptoms can change over time.
Have you or a loved one recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease?
If you have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in the last two years and would like help shape our work please get in touch via stories@alzheimersresearchuk.org
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Dementia information
Find out more about Alzheimer's including the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatments.
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This information was updated in May 2024 and is due for review in May 2026. It was written by Alzheimer's Research UK's Information Services team with input from lay and expert reviewers. Please get in touch if you'd like a referenced copy.
This information is produced with support from The Perfume Shop who had no input into the content.
