{"id":932486,"date":"2026-10-14T08:12:45","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T08:12:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/932486\/"},"modified":"2026-10-14T08:12:45","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T08:12:45","slug":"these-surprising-warning-signs-of-early-alzheimers-may-show-up-years-before-a-diagnosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/932486\/","title":{"rendered":"These Surprising Warning Signs of Early Alzheimer\u2019s May Show Up Years Before a Diagnosis"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alzheimer\u2019s disease<\/a> is often considered a disease of older adults, but some people who develop an early-onset form of the condition first start to notice symptoms between age 45 and 64<\/a>. Now, new research digs into those potential signs a little deeper\u2014and finds a slew of seemingly unrelated health conditions that can surface during that time.<\/p>\n

The study, which was published in Alzheimer\u2019s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer\u2019s Association<\/a>, analyzed data from 407 people with early-onset Alzheimer\u2019s disease (which is diagnosed in people under 65) who visited one of two memory clinics in Finland. They compared the electronic health records with nationwide health register data from more than 4,000 people who didn\u2019t have any progressive neurodegenerative disease. In particular, the researchers specifically focused on the 15 years before the patients were diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n

After comparing the data, they discovered that people who were eventually diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer\u2019s disease were more likely than the general population to experience a wide range of health issues years before their diagnosis.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is well known that the neuropathological changes associated with Alzheimer\u2019s disease begin at least 15 to 20 years before clinical cognitive symptoms appear,\u201d says Suvi-Johanna Kr\u00fcger, M.D., Ph.D<\/a>., study co-author and clinical lecturer at University of Oulu. \u201cMost previous studies have focused on late-onset Alzheimer\u2019s disease, and considerably less is known about early-onset Alzheimer\u2019s disease.\u201d<\/p>\n

Early-onset Alzheimer\u2019s disease isn\u2019t as common as late-onset Alzheimer\u2019s disease\u2014it accounts for up to 10% of cases\u2014but the findings raise a lot of questions about whether certain health complications should be looked at more closely to help aid an earlier diagnosis. Here\u2019s what experts want you to know.<\/p>\n

Meet the experts: Clifford Segil, D.O<\/a>., a neurologist at Providence Saint John\u2019s Health Center; Raymond Romano, Ph.D., M.P.H<\/a>., dementia researcher and family nurse practitioner at Vanderbilt Memory & Alzheimer\u2019s Center; Suvi-Johanna Kr\u00fcger, M.D., Ph.D<\/a>., study co-author and clinical lecturer at University of Oulu.<\/p>\n

What were the surprising symptoms linked to early-onset Alzheimer\u2019s disease?<\/p>\n

The researchers discovered an increase in a wide range of health issues before an early-onset Alzheimer\u2019s diagnosis that weren\u2019t reflected in the general population. These health conditions were most pronounced within the five-year period before diagnosis:<\/p>\n

Vertigo (5.9% in early-onset Alzheimer patients vs. 2.1% in the general population)<\/p>\n

Depression (5.7% vs. 2.3%)<\/p>\n

Brain injuries (2.9% vs 0.9%)<\/p>\n

Thyroid disorders (2.5% vs. 0.8%)<\/p>\n

Alcohol-related disorders (3.4% vs. 1.4%)<\/p>\n

Participants also were more likely to be diagnosed with ear, nose, and throat diseases (5.2% vs. 2.9%) one to five years before an early-onset Alzheimer\u2019s disease diagnosis.<\/p>\n

Overall, the researchers discovered that interactions with the healthcare system \u201cincreased markedly\u201d in the year before patients were diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n

But what they didn\u2019t find? Any increase in risk factors traditionally associated with and strongly linked<\/a> to the development of late-onset Alzheimer\u2019s, like high blood pressure<\/a> or high cholesterol. People in the study who went on to develop early-onset Alzheimer\u2019s were no more likely to be diagnosed with those conditions in the years leading up to their diagnosis than those in the control group.<\/p>\n

Why might patients have an increase in these symptoms?<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not clear just yet. \u201cOur study cannot determine whether these conditions cause early-onset Alzheimer\u2019s disease or whether they are consequences of the underlying disease process,\u201d Dr. Kr\u00fcger says. \u201cSome conditions may represent risk factors, while others may reflect early symptoms or changes occurring during the prodromal phase of the disease.\u201d<\/p>\n

There are a few theories, though. \u201cChanges in the brain associated with Alzheimer\u2019s disease can begin years before a diagnosis is made and may affect mood, behavior, sleep, balance, and other neurologic functions before significant memory loss becomes apparent,\u201d says Raymond Romano, Ph.D., M.P.H<\/a>., dementia researcher and family nurse practitioner at Vanderbilt Memory & Alzheimer\u2019s Center. As a result, someone may develop and seek care for symptoms like dizziness<\/a> or depression before doctors realize they\u2019re part of a broader neurodegenerative process, he explains.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome conditions may also share common risk factors or underlying biological pathways with dementia,\u201d Romano says.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s also possible that these are unrelated. \u201cThere is no clear neurological reason a patient with early-onset Alzheimer\u2019s disease would have these disparate symptoms,\u201d says Clifford Segil, D.O<\/a>., a neurologist at Providence Saint John\u2019s Health Center. Instead, it may be possible that patients who have a lot of health issues may be more likely to get tested for something like Alzheimer’s disease faster than others if symptoms surface.<\/p>\n

Still, \u201cfurther studies are needed to clarify these relationships,\u201d Dr. Kr\u00fcger says.<\/p>\n

What does this mean for your health if you experience some of these surprising issues?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to stress that you shouldn\u2019t worry that you have early-onset Alzheimer\u2019s disease if you suddenly develop symptoms like headaches or vertigo\u2014they can also happen on their own or be linked with other health conditions, making it tricky to pin this on early-onset Alzheimer\u2019s disease alone.<\/p>\n

Ditto if you develop respiratory issues or thyroid problems. \u201cIf you develop a runny nose, breathing problems, or thyroid disease, you should go see your primary care doctor because these are all easily treated,\u201d Dr. Segil says. \u201cIf you develop memory loss under age 65, you should go see a neurologist and get evaluated for dementia.\u201d Don\u2019t stress right away that these surprising signs are saying anything about your brain.<\/p>\n

But doctors say it\u2019s fair to flag to your healthcare provider if you start to develop multiple unusual symptoms, especially if they\u2019re coupled with some of the more classic symptoms of Alzheimer\u2019s disease, like persistent cognitive changes, memory problems, trouble at work, and language difficulties.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe take-home message is not that headaches, depression, or dizziness mean someone is developing Alzheimer\u2019s disease,\u201d Romano says. \u201cThe message is that brain health and overall health are deeply connected, and taking steps to manage cardiovascular health, mental health, sleep, hearing, and alcohol use can benefit brain health regardless of whether someone is at risk for dementia.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ultimately, doctors say it\u2019s crucial to see a healthcare provider if you\u2019re having any kind of persistent health issues, including memory problems. \u201cEarly diagnosis is important because more treatment and support options are available in the early stages of the disease,\u201d Dr. Kr\u00fcger says. \u201cEarly diagnosis also gives individuals and their families more time to plan for the future and access appropriate support services.\u201d<\/p>\n

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