The most common first manifestation of Alzheimer disease is Loss of short-term memory (eg, asking repetitive questions, frequently misplacing objects or forgetting appointments) Other cognitive deficits tend to involve multiple functions, including the following: Impaired reasoning, difficulty handling complex tasks, and poor judgment (eg, being unable to manage bank account, making poor financial decisions) Language dysfunction (eg, difficulty thinking of common words, errors speaking and / or writing) Visuospatial dysfunction (eg, inability to recognize faces or common objects) Alzheimer disease progresses gradually but may plateau for periods of time.