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Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking and behaviour. Symptoms can become severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. The disease is the most common cause of dementia which is a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. According to Alzheimer’s Association, “Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases.”

Mayo Clinic says that Alzheimer’s disease causes the brain to shrink and brain cells to eventually die. It is important to take steps that can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease from progressing. One of the ways to prevent the progression of Alzheimer’s disease is to spot the early signs of the disease.

Here, take a look at some of the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a report in The Sun.

Research shows that giving out money can be a sign of early Alzheimer’s. The study involved 67 adults around the age of 70. Each of the participants was paired with another participant that they had never met before. They were handed $10 (£8) to share as they pleased. Researchers discovered that those who were at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s gave more money to the person they had just met. This means that those who have the disease are more vulnerable to giving out cash.

A team of researchers at University College London found that a change in your sense of humour can mean you have a risk of Alzheimer’s. They revealed people with the disease are more likely to enjoy slapstick over more complicated forms of comedy.

Family members of someone who has Alzheimer’s know that sufferers can struggle to get ready in the morning. Patients may choose clashing clothes or wear things that are not weather-appropriate. Researchers found that Alzheimer’s can cause people to start dressing differently.

Alzheimer’s affects people’s motor skills which means meaning as their condition progresses their driving can get worse. It slows down people’s reactions, making them bad at parking. A study from Washington University in St Louis studied driving habits in 139 people - half of which were diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s. It predicted cases accurately in 90 per cent of the people.

Swearing is another sign that someone is developing Alzheimer’s. When people have the disease, the filter in their brain that would usually tell them the correct situations to swear in is no longer as strong. This can lead to awkward situations such as swearing in front of children.

Like with swearing, as someone develops Alzheimer’s their ability to filter what to say becomes hazy. That’s because the part of the brain that controls our internal filter, the frontal prefrontal cortex, is known to shrink with age, according to experts. This means patients can say or do outlandishly inappropriate things without realising it is wrong.

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