The 5 early signs of Alzheimer’s to look out for as Fiona Phillips shares her first, unusual symptoms

TV host Fiona Philips has revealed she's been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at 62.

The former GMTV presenter said she was convinced her brain fog and anxiety was due to the menopause.

But she later discovered her symptoms were down to the most common cause of dementia in the UK.

Alzheimer's can be difficult to spot at first as it is often mistaken for other factors like depression, stress or "the change".

But there are some tell-tale early signs to look out for, according to the charity .

Here are the five most common.

1. Memory problems

The first noticeable symptom is often memory problems, the organisation says.

Someone may have difficulty recalling recent events or learning information, for example.

These kinds of issues can make a person more likely to:

• Forget about recent conversations or events
• Get lost in a familiar place or on a familiar journey
• Forget appointments or significant dates
• Become increasingly disorganised

Experts say this is because one of the first parts of the brain to be damaged is the hippocampus, which plays an important role in memory.

2. Thinking and reasoning difficulties

Alzheimer's UK says the second most common early sign of the condition is problems with thinking and reasoning. This includes:

• Difficulty concentrating (e.g. regularly being unable to follow a conversation or needing silence and complete focus to understand what someone is saying)
• Problems planning or organising (e.g. struggling to do everyday tasks in the right order, like cook a meal)
• Getting confused about what time of day it is or where they are

3. Trouble with language

Communication difficulties are also fairly common in the early stages.

Someone may find it challenging to find the right words or be able to concentrate on what is being said.

If you notice a person using general words like "thing" or "stuff", or saying "him" or "her" rather than using a name, then it might be worth contacting your GP.

Long pauses between words or sentences and struggling with place names can also be signs of Alzheimer's.

4. Changes in mood

As with many progressive conditions (ones that get worse over time), changes in mood are frequently reported.

Many people become anxious, more easily annoyed, sad or frightened, causing them to lose interest in the friends, activities or hobbies they used to enjoy.

Alzheimer's UK says it is hard to know whether this social withdrawal is caused by the disease itself, or the frustrations of struggling with everyday tasks because of their symptoms.

5. A shift in how things are seen and heard

Finally, though slightly less common, people might notice that loved ones begin to struggle to judge distances and see the outline of objects.

This can make using stairs or parking a car much harder, for example.

"They may also find certain noises uncomfortable or upsetting, such as loud music or lots of people in a room talking at the same time," Alzheimer's UK says.

This disease has ravaged my family and now it has come for me

Fiona Philips

Philips was diagnosed at the age of 62 after suffering with brain fog, anxiety and confusion.