Alzheimer Disease -Ten Warning Signs
To help you know the warning signs to look for, the following is a list of the common symptoms of dementia. Read the list and check the symptoms that concern you. If someone you know shows signs of many of these symptoms they should see a doctor for a complete examination.
- Memory Loss that affects Job Skills It is normal to forget business meetings or telephone numbers or even appointments with friends occasionally, but remember them later. People with early onset dementia such as Alzheimer's Disease may forget things, especially of recent events and peoples names etc.
- Difficulty Performing Familiar Tasks Busy people can be distracted from time to time and have the vegetables on the cooker and only remember to serve them at the end of the meal. People with dementia might 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 a person with Alzheimer's Disease may forget simple words or substitute inappropriate words making his or her sentence incomprehensible.
- Disorientation of Time and Place It is normal to forget the day of the week, month of the year or your destination for a moment. People with Alzheimer's disease can become lost in their own street, not knowing where they are, how they got there or how to get back home.
- Poor or Decreased Judgement People can be so immersed in an activity that they temporarily forget the child they are watching. People with dementia could entirely forget the cooking dinner or the running tap. They may also dress inappropriately, wearing several blouses, shirts or cardigan etc.
- Housekeeping Problems Balancing a cheque book or handling financial affairs can be difficult at times for everybody. Someone with Alzheimer's Disease could forget completely what numbers mean, fail to recognise the paper money, what it means and may burn it, throw it away, or hide it.
- Misplacing Things Anyone can temporarily misplace a wallet or keys. A person with Alzheimer's Disease may put things in unusual places i.e. an iron in the freezer, shoes in the fridge or cups in the hot press.
- Changes in Mood or Behaviour Everybody can be sad or moody from time to time. Someone with Alzheimer's Disease can have rapid , mood swings, can go from calm to tears, to anger and for no apparent reason.
- Changes in Personality People's personalities change somewhat with age. But a person with Alzheimer's Disease can become suspicious, fearful, withdrawn and uncommunicative.
- Loss of Initiative It is normal to tire of housework, business activities, or social obligations. People with Alzheimer's Disease may become very passive and require prompting and encouragement for him or her to become involved.
Ref: Harvard Health letter special report. Commonwealth Dept. of Health & Family Services (The Carer Experience)