Living with Dementia > Alzheimer's Stages > Early

Early-stage Alzheimer's can be diagnosed in some, but not all, individuals with these symptoms. Friends, family, or co-workers begin to notice deficiencies. Problems with memory or concentration may be measurable in clinical testing or discernible during a detailed medical interview. Common difficulties include:

• Decreased knowledge of recent occasions or current events
  
  
• Impaired ability to perform challenging mental arithmetic-for example, to count backward from 75 by 7s
  
  
• Decreased capacity to perform complex tasks, such as planning dinner for guests, paying bills and managing finances
  
  
• Reduced memory of personal history
  
  
• The affected individual may seem subdued and withdrawn, especially in socially or mentally challenging situations