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The First Signs of Alzheimer’s
The First Signs of Alzheimer’s
There are some warning signs and symptoms of the onset of
Alzheimer’s disease. This disease is one that affects the brain and causes a
slow decline in reasoning, thinking skills and memory. If you notice any of
these symptoms in your senior, don't ignore them but schedule a doctor
appointment as soon as possible for testing.
Signs of Alzheimer’s
Mild forgetfulness is a part of the normal process of aging. If your loved one has a problem remembering the name of someone but recalls it later, that’s not an issue. However, if memory issues are affecting the daily life of your senior, it could be an early sign of Alzheimer's. Below are some of the symptoms and the difference between those signs and age-related changes.
1. If your senior is having memory loss that’s affecting their daily life: One of the first signs of Alzheimer’s is forgetting learned information. This would include asking for the same information repeatedly, forgetting an important event or date, relying increasingly on memory aide like reminder notes or asking family members to do things that they used to do on their own. An age-related change would be forgetting an appointment but then remembering about it later that day.
2. If your senior is having difficulty in making plans or solving problems: Sometimes a senior will develop a change in their ability to work with numbers or develop a plan and then follow through with it. Or, your loved one could be having problems paying bills or concentrating. An age-related change would be making an occasional error when balancing their checkbook.
3. If your senior is having a problem finishing everyday tasks when at home, at work or relaxing: If your loved one is developing Alzheimer’s, then they may find it difficult to complete a familiar task. They could also have trouble remembering how to drive to a place that they have driven many times. An age-related change would be if they needed help figuring out the settings on the microwave.
4. If your senior is having trouble with places or time: Alzheimer’s patients can quickly lose track of seasons, dates and even the passage of time. The person could have difficulty understanding an event if it isn't happening right then. Sometimes they can forget how they arrived where your loved one is or even where they are at. Age-related changes would be if the person wasn't sure what day it was but figured it out later.
5. If your senior is having difficulty with words or writing: You may notice that your loved one is having trouble following a conversation or joining in on one. Or, they could stop in the middle of speaking and forget how to continue or could start to repeat their selves. Your senior could have difficulty finding the right word for an object or call things by a wrong name. For example, calling an apple a lemon. An age-related change would occasionally be having difficulty finding the correct word.
If any of these symptoms appear, make an appointment with a doctor immediately. Your loved one can start treatment to help relieve some of the symptoms and even keep them independent longer.
References
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/10_signs