Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia and is also a progressive and fatal brain disease, which will rob a patient of cognitive skills and eventually bodily functions. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks.
 |
| 5 most common early signs of Alzheimer's |
Recognizing the disease early can help a patient and family prepare to deal with it, but keep in mind there is no cure (although there are treatments that can possibly slow progression or improve quality of life).
Here are five (5) early warning signs that Alzheimer’s is creeping into your life or that of a loved one.
1. Forgetting Recently learned Information
One of the most common signs of Alzheimer's is memory loss, especially forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over, increasingly needing to rely on memory aids (e.g. reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own.
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems
Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before.
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure
People with Alzheimer's often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes, people may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game.
4. Behavioral/Personality Changes
Harvard Medical School explains that Alzheimer’s can change the way a person acts, and cause them to do some unusual things. While it’s normal for some people to change their social habits as they age, “changes in a person’s basic disposition or temperament aren’t normal and may be signs of dementia,” notes the school. Depression is common among Alzheimer’s patients, it adds.
As far as unusual behavior is concerned, the patient might be more prone to wandering (and perhaps getting lost), wearing clothes that don’t suit them or their environment, or engaging in “unsafe” behaviors, it adds. A well-mannered person may also suddenly start using foul language as the disease sets in.
5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer's. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast, which may cause problems with driving.
If you notice any of those warning signs in yourself or a loved one, visit your doctor to evaluate your overall health and identify any conditions that could affect how well your mind is working. Your doctor may refer you to a specialist such as a:
Neurologist – specializes in diseases of the brain and nervous system
Psychiatrist – specializes in disorders that affect mood or the way the mind works
Psychologist – has special training in testing memory and other mental functions
Geriatrician – specializes in the care of older adults and Alzheimer's disease
Good work
ReplyDeleteThank you Ma.
Delete