The television show Grey’s Anatomy has brought a lot of attention to Alzheimer's, as well as increased knowledge of early onset Alzheimer's. Most people are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s after experiencing symptoms of memory loss around age 65, but it is increasingly showing up in people between the ages of 40 and 50. Some people also start to show symptoms around age 30. When symptoms show up in patients younger than 65, it is designed as early onset Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, which means treatment aims not to cure it but to treat symptoms and delay its progression. Over time, Alzheimer’s takes away a patient’s memory and ability to reason and think clearly. Eventually, patients are unable to manage life on their own, which is why strong support from family and friends, as well as other groups, is often necessary to maintain a high quality of life.

The signs of early onset Alzheimer’s are largely the same as traditional Alzheimer’s except they show up earlier. Most people report noticing small lapses in their memory and problems with everyday working memory. Before long, brain function deteriorates enough that it is hard to complete daily tasks. While everyone forgets things, someone with early onset Alzheimer’s will forget more than usual, misplace items constantly, or continue to ask the same question, much like someone suffering from amnesia.

Alzheimer’s will also manifest via speech patterns and issues with visual processing. For example, someone may struggle with reading comprehension or judging distance. Often, issues will show up when they drive. They also might seem to stumble over words or interchange words incorrectly without awareness. These same issues will reoccur throughout the day and in mundane ways. For instance, the person may be unable to complete daily housework or find balancing a checkbook or making a purchase arduous.

As Alzheimer’s progresses and becomes more severe, patients may get lost or wander out of their home, placing themselves in dangerous situations. This is usually why those with advanced Alzheimer’s require special accommodations and 24/7 caregivers. Eventually, they will start to lose control of their involuntary daily functions and may have trouble speaking, walking, and swallowing. At this point, mood and personality differences will be extreme, although the onset may seem slow and progressive and keep pace with the progression of the disease.

At this time, the exact cause of Alzheimer’s is not known, but scientists are aware that it is genetic and tends to run in families. Therefore, those with a family history of early onset Alzheimer’s have a higher risk and should be watchful for signs.