One of the earliest and most common signs of Alzheimer’s disease is memory loss that disrupts daily life. A person may begin to forget recently learned information, important dates or conversations more frequently.

People living with Alzheimer’s may begin to find familiar daily activities unexpectedly challenging. Tasks that were once routine, such as preparing meals, following a favourite recipe, managing household chores, or driving to familiar places, may become confusing.

Sometimes the difficulty is subtle at first. A person may take much longer to complete tasks or need assistance with activities they previously managed with ease.

Another common early sign is confusion about time, dates, or locations. People with Alzheimer’s may lose track of seasons, forget where they are, or become disoriented even in familiar environments.

They may also struggle to understand events that are not happening immediately or forget how they arrived somewhere.

Some people experience changes in their ability to plan, concentrate, or manage tasks involving numbers. They may have trouble following instructions, keeping track of monthly bills, or managing a budget.

Tasks that once felt simple may begin to feel overwhelming or take much longer to complete.

Communication problems can also appear in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. A person may have trouble following conversations, finding the right words, or expressing thoughts clearly.

Changes in mood, personality, and social behaviour can also appear in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Someone may become more anxious, suspicious, fearful, confused, or easily upset.

At the same time, they may begin withdrawing from hobbies, social activities, or work projects they once enjoyed. Family and friends may notice that the person seems less engaged or less interested in social interactions.