Alzheimer's Disease: The 10 Warning Signs

Some change in memory is normal as we grow older, but symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are more than simple lapses in memory. Persons with Alzheimer's experience difficulties in communicating, learning, thinking, and reasoning - problems severe enough to have an impact on an individual's daily life. It is critical to receive information, care and support as early as possible. The Alzheimer's Association developed this checklist of common symptoms to help individuals, family members, and healthcare professionals recognize the warning signs of Alzheimer's.

1. Memory Loss. One of the most common early signs of dementia is forgetting recently learned information. While it is normal to forget appointments, names or telephone numbers, those with dementia will forget such things more often and not remember them later.
2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks. Persons with dementia often find it hard to complete everyday tasks. A person with Alzheimer's may not know the steps for preparing a meal, using a household appliance, or participating in a lifelong hobby.
3. Problems with language. We all have trouble finding the right word sometimes, but a person with Alzheimer's disease often forgets simple words or substitutes unusual words, making speech or writing hard to understand.
4. Disorientation to time and place. A person with Alzheimer's can become lost on their own street, forget where they are, how they got there, and not know how to get back home.
5. Poor or decreased judgment. Those with Alzheimer's may dress without regard to the weather, wearing several layers on a warm day or very little in cold weather. Individuals with dementia often show poor judgment about money, giving away large amounts of money to telemarketers or paying for home repairs or products they don't need.
6. Problems with abstract thinking. Balancing a checkbook may be hard when the task is more complicated than usual. Someone with Alzheimer's disease could forget completely what the numbers are and what needs to be done with them.
7. Misplacing things. Anyone can temporarily misplace a wallet or key. A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things in unusual places; an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in a sugar bowl.
8. Changes in mood or behavior. Everyone can become sad or moody from time to time. Someone with Alzheimer's disease can show rapid mood swings - from calm to tears to anger - for no apparent reason.
9. Changes in personality. People's personalities ordinarily change somewhat with age. But a person with Alzheimer's disease can change a lot, becoming extremely confused, suspicious, fearful, or dependent on a family member.
10. Loss of initiative. It is normal to tire of housework, business activities, or social obligations at times. The person with Alzheimer's disease may become very passive, sitting in front of the television for hours, sleeping more than usual, or not wanting to do usual activities.

For more information about the Alzheimer's Association Colorado Chapter, please visit www.alzrockymtn.com or call 303.813.1669. Help is available 24/7 at 1.800.864.4404

Republished by permission of the Alzheimer's Association - 2005 all rights reserved