The symptoms of AD can be generally divided into three categories – cognitive, functional, and neuropsychiatric. The main areas of cognition that can be impaired during AD include memory, language, attention and executive functions, and visuospatial skills.
A decline in everyday function is also a predominant feature of AD, the effects of which become more disabling as the disease progresses. The ability to perform activities of daily living deteriorates with advancing disease severity.
Neuropsychiatric and behavioural symptoms of AD include depression/dysphoria, apathy/indifference, elation/euphoria, anxiety, irritability, agitation/aggression, aberrant motor behaviour, disinhibition, delusions, hallucinations, sleep disturbances, and appetite/eating disturbances.
Read more about The symptoms throughout the Alzheimer’s disease
Related content
Social and physical exposome factors—like poverty, pollution, and inequality—accumulate over time, shaping biological aging and cognitive decline. Through inflammation and cellular stress, these exposures drive neurodegeneration, highlighting the need for longitudinal, integrative research.
The exposome reframes dementia as the product of cumulative physical and social exposures-like pollution, nutrition, and inequality-across life. These factors shape brain aging through inflammation and epigenetic change. Lifespan, global studies are key to equitable dementia prevention.
