When Do Most People Show Signs of Alzheimer’s?

It is imperative that you have an established estate and elder law plan before being diagnosed with a mental condition. It can be difficult to prove that the documents have been executed in a legally valid manner if the person is classified as incompetent under the law. This makes it important to understand the potential implication of Alzheimer’s disease and early symptoms.

Scientists are still actively involved in the study of Alzheimer’s disease and many things are not yet known. Very early clinical signs and symptoms indicate damage that has occurred in a patient’s brain as a result of Alzheimer’s disease. For the vast majority of people who have Alzheimer’s, which occurs at a late onset period, symptoms will begin to appear in their mid-60s.

Early onset Alzheimer’s, however, can show symptoms between a person’s 30s and mid-60s. The symptoms and the severity of symptoms of Alzheimer’s will vary from one person to another. If the person is still relatively capable of functioning on their own, they could be competent enough to execute their own estate planning documents, and now would be the perfect time to do so to ensure they are protected.

Some of the most common issues include memory problems, decline in non-memory aspects of cognition, impaired judgement or reasoning and vision or spatial issues are some of the most early indicators of Alzheimer’s disease.

If you have further questions about how to protect a loved one who appears to be showing the early signs of Alzheimer’s, schedule a consultation with a trusted estate planning lawyer in MA today.

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult with a qualified attorney.

About Tiffany A. O'Connell, JD, LLM, CELA, AEP

Tiffany A. O'Connell, JD, LLM, CELA, AEP is the CEO and Founding Partner of O'Connell Law, an estate planning and elder law firm serving clients across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. She is one of a select group of attorneys in Massachusetts certified by the National Elder Law Foundation as a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA). Tiffany focuses her practice on estate planning, trust and probate administration, Medicaid planning, long-term care planning, Alzheimer's planning, charitable planning, and retirement and wealth strategies. She has been helping families plan for their futures since opening her practice in 2010.

Credentials: JD, LLM, CELA (Certified Elder Law Attorney — National Elder Law Foundation), AEP (Accredited Estate Planner)

Licensed in: Massachusetts

Areas of Practice: Estate Planning, Elder Law, Medicaid Planning, Probate & Trust Administration, Alzheimer's Planning, Asset Protection

View all posts by Tiffany A. O'Connell, JD, LLM, CELA, AEP →

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult with a qualified attorney.