I will list several worrisome habits I experienced that could be a precursor to full blown Alzheimer's, as I have learned it from my study. The experts say it can take years, however I had one friend whose husband had early onset AZ. I have read that loss of sense of smell is sometimes an early sign. I have read that loss of taste of food can be an early sign. The TV documentary about Hoarders reports that hoarding can be an early sign. Collecting things can develop into an irrational habit that overloads a home. Rocking side to side while walking can be a sign of mental disorder. Picking scabs off the body and eating them can be a troubling sign of mental problems. Some habits are signs of OCD, obsessive compulsive disorder, which can be genetic in families. I have experienced all these signs in my late husband and my sister and her family. It is often more than just the loss of rational speech. I continue to study. Dorisena