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Is It Alzheimer's Disease? Ten Warning Signs
Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative disease of the brain. Its causes are unknown, and there currently is no cure. The Alzheimer's Association has developed a checklist of common symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (some of these symptoms also may apply to other dementing illnesses). If you review the following list and find several areas of concern, you should make an appointment with a physician for a complete examination of the individual with the symptoms.
- RECENT MEMORY LOSS AFFECTS JOB SKILLS: It is normal
to occasionally forget an assignment, a colleague or a business associate's
name or telephone number, and remember them later. Those with a dementia
such as Alzheimer's disease may forget things more often and not remember
them later. They may repeatedly ask the same question, not remembering
the answer.
- DIFFICULTY PERFORMING FAMILIAR TASKS: Busy people
can be so distracted from time to time that they may leave the carrots
on the stove and only remember to serve them at the end of the meal.
People with Alzheimer's disease could prepare a meal and not only forget
to serve it, but also forget they made it.
- PROBLEMS WITH LANGUAGE: Everyone has trouble finding
the right word sometimes, but can finish the sentence with another appropriate
word. A person with Alzheimer's disease may forget simple words, or
substitute inappropriate words, making their sentence incomprehensible.
- DISORIENTATION OF TIME AND PLACE: It is normal to
forget the day of the week or your destination for a moment. But people
with Alzheimer's disease can become lost on their own street or in a
familiar shopping mall, not knowing where they are, how they got there
or how to get back home.
- POOR OR DECREASED JUDGEMENT: People can become so
immersed in an activity or telephone conversation they temporarily forget
the child they're watching. A person with Alzheimer's disease could
entirely forget the child under their care and leave the house to visit
a neighbor. They may dress inappropriately, wearing several shirts or
blouses.
- PROBLEMS WITH ABSTRACT THINKING: People who normally
balance their checkbooks may be momentarily disconcerted when the task
is more complicated than usual, but will eventually figure out the solution.
Someone with Alzheimer's disease could forget completely what the numbers
are and what needs to be done with them.
- MISPLACING THINGS: Anyone can misplace their wallet
or keys, but eventually find them by reconstructing where they could
have left them. A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things in
inappropriate places; an iron in the freezer, or a wristwatch in the
sugar bowl.
- CHANGES IN MOOD: Everyone has a bad day once in a
while, or may become sad or moody from time to time. Someone with Alzheimer's
disease can exhibit rapid mood swings for no apparent reason; such as
going from calm to tears to anger to calm in a few moments.
- CHANGES IN PERSONALITY: People's personalities ordinarily
change somewhat at different ages, as character traits strengthen or
mellow. But a person with Alzheimer's disease can change drastically,
becoming extremely confused, irritable, suspicious or fearful.
- LOSS OF INITIATIVE: It's normal to tire of housework,
business activities or social obligations, but most people regain their
initiative. The person with Alzheimer's disease may become passive and
require cues and prompting to get them involved in activities.
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