Fiona Phillips made a heartbreaking revelation last night, disclosing her surprising diagnosis of Alzheimer’s at the age of 62. Initially, she attributed her symptoms of anxiety, confusion, and brain fog to menopause and sought hormone replacement therapy. However, as her brain fog persisted, she consulted various specialists and eventually received a confirmed diagnosis. In this article, MailOnline highlights some of the unusual early symptoms associated with the disease. Fiona Phillips first experienced symptoms such as crippling anxiety, confusion, and brain fog towards the end of 2021. She consulted a menopause specialist and underwent hormone replacement therapy, which provided some relief for certain symptoms, but her brain fog persisted.
Changes in humor and swearing can be indications of Alzheimer’s and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a type of dementia that affects behavior and language. According to experts, other signs of the disease include bad parking and dressing scruffily. A graphic illustrating six signs of Alzheimer’s disease is included in the article.
Giving out money to strangers could be an early warning sign of Alzheimer’s, according to research conducted by USC and Bar-Ilan University in Israel. The study involved 67 adults around the age of 70 who were paired with unfamiliar individuals and given $10 to distribute between themselves and their partner. Neurological tests were conducted to assess their cognitive state and potential risk of developing Alzheimer’s. The results, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, indicated that those at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s were more likely to give money to their unknown partner. Dr. Duke Han, a neuropsychology professor at USC who led the research, noted that difficulty handling money is considered an early sign of the disease, and this finding supports that notion.
Fiona Phillips and her husband Martin Frizell were left in total shock upon receiving her Alzheimer’s diagnosis, as they had initially believed her brain fog symptoms were related to menopause. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain, characterized by the accumulation of abnormal proteins that cause nerve cells to die. This disrupts the transmission of messages and leads to brain shrinkage. In the US, Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death, with over 5 million people affected, while in the UK, over 1 million people have the disease. The article provides an overview of the disease and its progression, from early symptoms such as memory loss and disorientation to later symptoms including severe memory loss, anxiety, and frustration.
Changes in humor can also indicate the onset of Alzheimer’s. Researchers at University College London found that individuals with the disease were more likely to enjoy watching slapstick, absurdist, or satirical comedy compared to their peers of the same age. A questionnaire was administered to friends and relatives of 48 Alzheimer’s and FTD patients, inquiring about their loved one’s comedic preferences and whether there had been a shift in taste over the past 15 years. The study, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease in 2015, revealed that individuals with the disease began to prefer slapstick humor nine years before the typical onset of dementia symptoms. It was also noted that people with FTD were more likely to find tragic events or otherwise unfunny situations amusing, such as poorly parked cars or barking dogs. These changes in humor may be attributed to the shrinking of the frontal lobe in the brain.
Researchers at the universities of Kent and York discovered that individuals with dementia often struggle with dressing themselves appropriately. The study, published in Sociology of Health and Illness in 2018, involved interviews with care home staff, family caregivers, and relatives. It was revealed that people with dementia were less capable of dressing independently, resulting in fashion mishaps and wearing garments unsuitable for the weather. Changes in appearance and clothing choices can stem from various Alzheimer’s symptoms, including muscle stiffness, difficulty with arm movements, and forgetting the ownership of clothes.
Alzheimer’s disease can affect a patient’s driving abilities due to its impact on motor skills, memory, and cognitive function. A study conducted at Washington University in St. Louis observed the driving habits of 139 individuals, half of whom had early Alzheimer’s. The study, published in Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy in 2021, found that those with Alzheimer’s were more likely to drive slowly and make sudden changes in direction. Based on their findings, the researchers developed a model that accurately predicted Alzheimer’s in nine out of ten cases based on driving abilities.
The loss of a filter in speech and behavior is another warning sign of Alzheimer’s. Individuals with the disease may engage in inappropriate language and behavior, such as undressing in public, being rude, or talking to strangers. The frontal prefrontal cortex, responsible for social filters, diminishes in size as Alzheimer’s progresses. The Alzheimer’s Society notes that these situations can be confusing, distressing, and frustrating for individuals with dementia and their loved ones, emphasizing that such behavior is unlikely intentional.
In conclusion, Fiona Phillips’ Alzheimer’s diagnosis serves as a reminder to be aware of the unusual and early signs of the disease. Changes in humor, giving out money to strangers, dressing issues, bad parking, and a lack of filter in speech and behavior can all be potential indications of Alzheimer’s. Recognizing these signs can lead to early intervention and support for individuals affected by the disease.
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