The claim “an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease can be noticed while taking a shower” is misleading if it suggests there is one specific shower-related symptom that diagnoses Alzheimer’s.
One thing that can sometimes become noticeable during everyday activities such as showering is difficulty completing familiar, previously automatic tasks. This is called apraxia when a person has trouble carrying out learned movements despite having the physical ability to do them.
For example, someone with cognitive impairment might:
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Forget the normal sequence of turning on the water, adjusting the temperature, washing, and rinsing.
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Become confused about how familiar toiletries are used.
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Have difficulty recognizing or correctly using ordinary objects.
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Need increasingly more help with bathing or other routine activities.
However, these problems can have many causes, including normal aging, depression, medication effects, vision problems, or other neurological conditions.
Other early Alzheimer’s warning signs
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Repeatedly asking the same questions
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Forgetting recently learned information
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Difficulty managing familiar finances or medications
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Getting lost in familiar places
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Trouble finding common words
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Increasing difficulty planning or solving everyday problems
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Personality or behavior changes
One unusual incident in the shower does not mean someone has Alzheimer’s. What matters is a persistent pattern of cognitive or functional changes that interferes with everyday life.
If you’re concerned about a family member, a medical evaluation is the best way to determine whether the changes represent normal aging, mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, or another potentially treatable condition.
