Symptoms of familial Alzheimer's disease
Last Reviewed: Jul 2, 2025Before symptoms start
People with FAD exhibit changes in the brain many years before they begin to show symptoms. In some cases, these changes can be detected using specific tests. This is called the preclinical phase.
Researchers are currently working on how these brain changes ultimately result in the appearance of symptoms.
Common symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease
Like sporadic Alzheimer’s disease, FAD starts with changes in how a person thinks or acts. Common symptoms include:
Memory Loss: Forgetting recently learned information, important dates, or events.
Problem-Solving Difficulties: Trouble handling tasks like paying bills or following recipes.
Confusion: Losing track of time, dates, or even seasons.
Difficulty with Words: Struggling to find the right words in conversations or while writing.
Misplacing Items: Losing belongings and being unable to retrace steps to find them.
Poor Judgment: Making poor decisions, like giving away money irresponsibly.
Social Withdrawal: Losing interest in hobbies, social activities, or interacting with friends and family.
Mood Changes: Becoming easily upset, anxious, or experiencing mood swings.
Motor Changes: Having difficulty walking, leg stiffness, or other difficulties performing coordinated movements.
Since symptoms of FAD often start between age 30 and 50, doctors may not always suspect Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer's disease is often mistaken for depression in the beginning, due to an overlap in symptoms.
Learn more about how Alzheimer’s is diagnosed.
Symptoms unique to familial Alzheimer's disease
There are certain symptoms which arise more often in FAD than in sporadic Alzheimer’s disease. These symptoms include:
Spastic Paraparesis: Muscle stiffness and mild weakness in the legs.
Seizures: Sudden, uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain causing physical convulsions.
Myoclonus: Quick, involuntary muscle twitches.
Parkinsonism: Movement abnormalities such as tremors, slow movement, and muscle stiffness.
Intracerebral Hemorrhages: Bleeding within the brain.
Language Impairment: More pronounced difficulties with speech and understanding language.
Hallucinations: Seeing or hearing things that aren't really there.
Hypertonia: Increased muscle tension and reduced flexibility
Late stage symptoms
As the disease progresses, symptoms become severe and profoundly affect daily life. Late-stage FAD can be challenging for families and caregivers, as individuals become fully dependent for all aspects of care. Proper medical and social support is essential for managing these late-stage symptoms.
Physical Decline: Inability to walk, difficulty swallowing causing increased susceptibility to infections like pneumonia
Cognitive Symptoms: Inability to recognize close family members, loss of communication skills, high levels of confusion and disorientation.
Behavior Changes: More frequent agitation and aggression, lack of cooperation, potential hallucinations or delusions (unusual thoughts not based in reality).
Daily Life Impact: Complete dependency on caregivers for daily activities, loss of bladder and bowel control.
Neurological Signs: More frequent seizures, muscle stiffness or twitching.
Taking care of someone with FAD
Helping a person with FAD starts small, by making sure their bills are paid or taking them grocery shopping. It gradually becomes more involved as they begin to need help with activities of daily living like showering, dressing, walking, and eating.
If you’re caring for someone with FAD, it can be incredibly helpful to connect with other caregivers who understand your challenges and can share their experience.
Learn more in our guide for caregivers.