You probably already know that memory changes can be an early sign of Alzheimer’s.

But what about taking twice as long to finish familiar tasks? Or becoming more withdrawn? 

Those are the kinds of changes most people never connect to brain health.

And that creates a problem: if you’re only watching for memory loss, you may be overlooking other changes worth paying attention to.

In the previous episode, we talked about why early diagnosis matters. Today, we’re answering the question that comes next: What exactly should you be looking for?

What to Listen For

• 00:00 — When does a frustrating memory lapse become something worth paying attention to? One forgotten word isn’t the issue. Amy explains what matters more.
• 03:30 — The 4 questions to ask before assuming the worst. This simple filter can help you separate an isolated “brain glitch” from a pattern that deserves a closer look.
• 07:10 — The memory distinction that changes how you think about forgetting. There’s an important difference between struggling to retrieve information and not retaining it in the first place.
• 11:00 — Misplacing something isn’t necessarily the red flag. What happens after you realize it’s missing may be much more revealing.
• 13:30 — An early change that can show up while driving or navigating. It may begin far more subtly than getting lost somewhere familiar.
• 14:45 — Why being able to complete a familiar task doesn’t always mean nothing has changed. Sometimes the clue is hidden in how much harder your brain has to work.
• 17:05 — The signs the people around you may notice before you do. Some early changes have surprisingly little to do with memory.
• 18:30 — The unexpected sense that may offer clues about brain health. It’s not diagnostic, but it’s one most people would never think to mention to their doctor.
• 20:00 — When several small changes start becoming a pattern. Amy explains when it may be time to stop monitoring on your own and start a conversation with a healthcare professional.
• 23:30 — What can you actually do with this information? Amy shares what a major lifestyle study found about cognition—and why your next step shouldn’t be trying to change everything at once.

If you haven’t listened to the previous episode on why early diagnosis matters, listen to that one next. Then download the free RESTORED Protocol, choose one small action you can take today to support your brain health, and share this episode with someone who may be wondering about changes in themselves or someone they love.

Recommended Complimentary Episodes

• Alzheimer’s Early Diagnosis: When Should You See a Neurologist? Why getting answers sooner matters.
• Do Leqembi and Kisunla Work? The 2 Key Factors. Start here for Part 1 of Amy’s three-part anti-amyloid series. Learn why the stage of Alzheimer’s disease and tau burden can influence how meaningful treatment benefit may be.
• Understanding ARIA: How Risky Are Leqembi and Kisunla? Part 2 explains the brain swelling and bleeding risk that comes with anti-amyloid treatment, why ARIA exists on a spectrum, and why individual risk factors matter.
• Leqembi or Kisunla? 8 Questions Before You Decide. The natural next listen after Episode 356. Amy walks families through the questions to consider when a neurologist says someone with MCI or early Alzheimer’s may qualify for treatment.
• Alzheimer’s Drugs: Why Amyloid Removal May Not Be Enough. Learn why successfully clearing amyloid from the brain doesn’t necessarily translate into meaningful improvements in memory or daily function, and how tau, neuroinflammation, and timing factor into the Alzheimer’s disease process.

RESOURCES:

• Take the Quiz: Is It Just Brain Fog? 
• Download After Mom’s Alzheimer’s Diagnosis: The First 8 Things to Know and learn how to support her with more calm, clarity, and confidence.
• Download the RESTORED Protocol: Eight Essential Protective Factors to Build an Alzheimer's-Resistant Brain
• Download the FREE Excerpt of Thoughts Are Habits Too
• Schedule your Breakthrough Roadmap session with Amy
• Follow Amy on Instagram @amylangcoaching  and on Facebook @amylangcoaching
• Subscribe to Amy's YouTube channel @happyandhealthywithamy