10 Early Signs of Alzheimer's

Comparing normal age-related changes

submitted by Stu Johnson

Posted: September 9, 2015

When is it time to suspect Alzheimer's? This guide from the Alzheimer's Association compares early signs of the disease with normal changes most of us experience as we age…

If you forget the name of someone you should know, or where you left your car keys, or forgot to pick up something from the store...and you’re over 50...should you be fearful of the onset of Alzheimer’s? We all have memory lapses, which may increase with age, but that is not necessarily an indicator.

The Alzeheimer’s Association has a helpful checklist to compare signs of Alzeheimer’s with normal symptoms that may be related to aging. Here it is in chart form.

10 Early Signs of Alzheimer's	Typical age-related changes
Memory loss that disrupts daily life	Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later
Challenges in planning or solving problems	Making occasional errors when balancing a checkbook
Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work, or at leisure	Occasionally needing help to use the settings on a microwave or to record a television show
Confusion with time and place	Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later
Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships	Vision changes related to cataracts
New problems with words in speaking or writing	Sometimes having trouble finding the right word
Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps	Misplacing things from time to time and retracing steps to find them
Decreased or poor judgment	Making a bad decision once in a while
Withdrawal from work or social activities	Sometimes feeling weary of work, family and social obligations
Changes in mood and personality	Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted

See the list with additional details at www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_10_signs_of_alzheimers.asp. Also includes suggestions on what to do if you or someone you care for exhibits any of the early signs.

For much more on Alzheimer’s see the Alzheimer’s Association website (www.alz.org) or call the 24/7 helpline at 800-272-3900.

Help support Alzheimer’s research by joining a Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Most walks for 2015 are scheduled from late August through early October. Check for dates and locations near you at act.alz.org/site/PageServer?pagename=walk_search

Posted: September 9, 2015 Accessed 1,367 times

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Well said...

We know what we are, but know not what we may be.

William Shakespeare