Early signs of Alzheimer’s disease as Jon Snow reveals diagnosis

All the signs to look out for

The 78-year-old opened up about the diagnosis in advance of an upcoming documentary that he has made in collaboration with Alzheimer’s Society and Channel 4.

Snow worked at the TV station for 32 years between 1989 and 2021.

Revealing the news of his diagnosis to the Daily Mail, his wife Dr Precious Lunga, whom he married in 2010, said: "I work in the health field, so I knew the statistics, but he was very active, he cycled everywhere and exercised, barely drank, was a healthy eater, and all these factors protect you against dementia."

She added that friends would often ask if Jon was okay, to which she felt she’d have to "lie and say he’s fine, but I knew he wasn’t."

Jon Snow and Precious Lunga. Credit: Getty.

Alzheimer’s disease is typically more common in people over the age of 65, doubling in prevalence between 65 and 80.

However, 1 in 20 diagnosed with the disease are younger than 65.

There is no current cure for Alzheimer's, which is one of a number of specific diseases which comes under the umbrella term dementia.

However, spotted the dementia early can help people get the relevant support and protection required as well as get access to treatments that can help slow the diseases progression and improve quality of life.

The symptoms of Alzheimer's disease progress slowly over several years. Sometimes these symptoms are confused with other conditions and may initially be put down to old age.

The rate at which the symptoms progress is different for each individual.

In some cases, other conditions can be responsible for symptoms getting worse.

These conditions include:

• infections
• stroke
• delirium

As well as these conditions, other things, such as certain medicines, can also worsen the symptoms of dementia.

Anyone with Alzheimer's disease whose symptoms are rapidly getting worse should be seen by a doctor so these can be managed.

There may be reasons behind the worsening of symptoms that can be treated.

As per the NHS website, here are the early signs of Alzheimer's.

Early signs of Alzheimer's disease

Early symptoms

In the early stages, the main symptom of Alzheimer's disease is memory lapses.

For example, someone with early Alzheimer's disease may:

• forget about recent conversations or events
• misplace items
• forget the names of places and objects
• have trouble thinking of the right word
• ask questions repetitively
• show poor judgement or find it harder to make decisions
• become less flexible and more hesitant to try new things

There are often signs of mood changes, such as increasing anxiety or agitation, or periods of confusion.

Meanwhile, the website also lists signs of early symptoms of dementia

Common early symptoms of dementia

Different types of dementia can affect people differently, and everyone will experience symptoms in their own way.

However, there are some common early symptoms that may appear some time before a diagnosis of dementia. These include:

• memory loss
• difficulty concentrating
• finding it hard to carry out familiar daily tasks, such as getting confused over the correct change when shopping
• struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word
• being confused about time and place
• mood changes

These symptoms are often mild and may get worse only very gradually. It's often termed "mild cognitive impairment" (MCI) as the symptoms are not severe enough to be diagnosed as dementia.

You might not notice these symptoms if you have them, and family and friends may not notice or take them seriously for some time. In some people, these symptoms will remain the same and not worsen. But some people with MCI will go on to develop dementia.

Dementia is not a natural part of ageing. This is why it's important to talk to a GP sooner rather than later if you're worried about memory problems or other symptoms.

Symptoms specific to vascular dementia

Vascular dementia is the second most common cause of dementia, after Alzheimer's. Some people have both vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease, often called "mixed dementia".

Symptoms of vascular dementia are similar to Alzheimer's disease, although memory loss may not be as obvious in the early stages.

Symptoms can sometimes develop suddenly and quickly get worse, but they can also develop gradually over many months or years.

Specific symptoms can include:

Symptoms specific to frontotemporal dementia

Although Alzheimer's disease is still the most common type of dementia in people under 65, a higher percentage of people in this age group may develop frontotemporal dementia than older people. Most cases are diagnosed in people aged 45-65.

Early symptoms of frontotemporal dementia may include: