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Eight Warning Signs That Can Indicate A Loved One Has Alzheimer's Disease
from: Pat MoauroWhat distinguishes normal aging tendencies from the warning signs of Alzheimer's disease? There seems to be no clear-cut line to differentiate the two. Therefore, it's wise to check with a doctor when a person starts to vary from his or her basic behavior, regular routines, or if their level of functioning seems to change.
What are some common signs to watch for when you suspect Alzheimer's disease and how do you differentiate them from normal behavior? Following are eight different signs to help you determine if a loved one has Alzheimer's disease:
1. Memory Loss: Problems with short-term memory and forgetting recently learned information is one of the more common, early signs of Alzheimer's disease. However, with normal aging, it's also common to forget names or miss appointments occasionally. People with Alzheimer's disease begin to forget more often and are unable to recall the information at a later date. When people commonly forget parts of events, this may be a sign of normal aging. However, if a person forgets the entire event, this is commonly related to Alzheimer's.
2. Difficulty Following Routines: People with dementia frequently experience difficultly performing tasks that normally should be familiar to them. What might have once been common routine now seems strangely alien. It's normal to forget why you've entered a room, or what you intended to tell someone. But people with dementia often lose track of what normally should come as second nature, like dressing, preparing a meal, or changing television channels.
3. Problems With Language Or Numbers: People with dementia often find difficulty verbalizing their thoughts, forgetting words, or substituting other words for what they mean. This often makes their speech and/or writing difficult to understand. Numbers also give them trouble, making it hard to figure out what the numbers are used for or being unable to add even the simplest sums. A person with Alzheimer's may demand "the black thing" when referring to a comb, or "food" when they really want a drink.
4. Disorientation: This is a common symptom of advanced dementia. People with Alzheimer's disease frequently become confused and lose track of time or become easily lost. They may have no idea where they are in their own neighborhood, or forget regular routes, such as going to the grocery store, even if they've taken the same path for years.
5. Poor Judgment: Alzheimer's patients tend to suffer from a poor or, at least decreased, sense of judgment. They may not dress warm enough for a cold winter's day, or put on many layers of clothing for a walk on a hot summer's day. They easily fall victim to scam artists and telemarketers, and may even try to give large sums of money away to televangelists, charities, or the homeless man on the street, leaving them with no money to live. Everyone may make debatable or questionable decisions from time to time; however, the Alzheimer's patient commonly can make colossal blunders if he or she isn't carefully watched.
6. Misplacing Things: Misplacing your keys, sometimes losing track of an item almost as soon as you set it down isn't uncommon. The Alzheimer's patient, however, takes this to an extreme, often misplacing items in a strange place, such as putting a toothbrush in the freezer, or storing a favorite diamond ring in the sugar bowl... with the sugar.
7. Mood Swings, Changes in Personality: These are common in a person suffering from dementia. In the early stages, Alzheimer's patients are often easily frustrated by lapses in memory, or angered by their feelings of helplessness. As the disease progresses, the anger can become mingled with confusion and fear, especially when one begins losing their grasp on familiar faces and their surroundings.
8. Loss of Motivation and Initiative: A person is normally tired after a busy day at work, but someone with Alzheimer's disease may be more strongly inclined to become disinterested in their surroundings, and more passive. They may spend hours sitting in their living room alone, content to spend all their time alone, just watching television. Some Alzheimer's patients sink into depressions and refuse to even leave their room or beds.
To protect yourself or a loved one, know these warning signs and, if you detect them, call your doctor immediately. The key is to get an early diagnosis, leading to appropriate treatment and care, and enlisting the help of support services and caregivers. When in doubt, talk to your physician.
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