People with Alzheimer's disease will show early signs of memory problems; especially difficulty remembering recently learned information. While it's normal to occasionally forget phone numbers or appointments, those with Alzheimer's will gradually forget more and more and become less able to recall information later.

Mild difficulty communicating to others or understanding what others are saying is an early indicator of possible Alzheimer's disease. While it's normal to periodically have trouble coming up with the right word to express your thoughts, someone with Alzheimer's will have much more trouble communicating and understanding what is being spoken about.

Those showing early signs of Alzheimer's may start making unwise personal, social, or financial decisions. For example, the person might wear a heavy coat during the summer. Someone with Alzheimer's may display more serious lapses in judgment that are uncharacteristic for them.

Individuals with Alzheimer's will start having problems planning and executing chores like fixing meals or paying bills. While it's normal to sometimes become sidetracked and forget where one was in the middle of an activity, those with Alzheimer's often won't be able to regain their bearings or follow through with a task.

People with Alzheimer's often become disoriented with their time and place. For instance, they may be confused about the current time, day, date, month, season, and/or year. They may also be confused about where they are in regard to address, city, province, or country. While it's normal to temporarily forget where one is headed or what day of the week it is, those with Alzheimer's might become lost on the way to the grocery store and be unable to make it back home.

A person with Alzheimer's will begin having trouble completing complex intellectual tasks, such as estimating the cost of a couple of items at the store . While it's normal to periodically have trouble with things like balancing the checkbook, a person with Alzheimer's might have consistent problems balancing a checkbook and in the later stages, he may no longer understand the meaning or purpose of the numbers in the checkbook.

A common early indicator of Alzheimer's is losing possessions and not being able to find them again, usually because the object was put in an odd place. For instance, a person with Alzheimer's might lose a hair brush because he put it in the washing machine and doesn't remember. While it's normal to occasionally misplace a set of keys or a wallet, only to find them later in a logical place, a person with Alzheimer's often won't be able to find the item again.

Someone with Alzheimer's may become extremely moody, switching between emotions such as anger and elation within a matter of seconds. While it's normal to occasionally feel down in the dumps or giddy, a person with Alzheimer's may display these emotions for no apparent reason and shift between them unpredictably.

In addition to becoming moody, individuals with Alzheimer's will sometimes show changes in personality. For instance, someone who had always been very independent and confident might become overly dependent and suspicious.

A common early indicator of Alzheimer's is increased passivity. In other words, the person might watch television for several hours a day, be reluctant to participate in activities he used to enjoy, or sleep most of the day.