Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are not just about memory loss. They are progressive diseases that affect the brain, leading to impaired thinking and reasoning abilities as well as impaired memory. Recognizing the early signs and knowing whether it’s dementia or just forgetfulness can lead to improved management and care. Here are the 10 key indicators to look for:
1. Disruptive Memory Loss
The most prominent sign of Alzheimer’s is significant memory loss that affects daily life. This includes forgetting things they may have learned only recently, and not being able to recall information and significant events and dates.
2. Difficulty in Planning and Problem Solving
People with dementia may struggle with tasks that require planning or problem-solving. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe, managing monthly bills or concentrating on tasks, which end up taking them longer to complete than before. Even simple problems like mopping up a spill may confound a person with dementia or Alzheimer’s.
3. Struggling With Familiar Tasks
Completing everyday tasks becomes increasingly difficult for those with Alzheimer’s. This could range from driving to a known location, organizing a shopping list, or remembering the rules of a favorite game. Common tasks that have been done hundreds of times, like changing the toilet tissue paper roll, may be extremely challenging.
4. Time and Place Confusion
Alzheimer’s patients often forget what day it is, lose track of the season and their overall sense of time. They may struggle to understand events — if they aren’t happening in the moment — and may forget where they are or how they arrived there.
5. Visual and Spatial Issues
Some people with Alzheimer’s experience vision problems, leading to difficulties with balance, reading, or judging distance. These issues can also lead to problems with driving.
6. Language and Speaking Problems
People with Alzheimer’s may find it hard to join or follow a conversation. They may stop mid-conversation, repeat themselves or struggle with vocabulary, often substituting an incorrect name for a familiar object.
7. Misplacing Items
Alzheimer’s patients may put things away in odd places, such as putting keys inside the freezer or a plate of leftover food in the bathroom closet. They often lose items and are unable to recall where they last were in order to find them. As the disease progresses, they may accuse others of stealing things that have only been misplaced.
8. Poor Judgment
Alzheimer’s can lead to problems with judgment and decision-making. This often translates to poor financial decisions or a lack of attention to personal grooming and cleanliness.
9. Social Withdrawal
People with Alzheimer’s may withdraw from work, social activities or hobbies they once loved. This change often results from their struggles to hold or follow conversations.
10. Mood and Personality Changes
Alzheimer’s and dementia often cause mood and personality changes. Patients may act confused, paranoid or depressed. The lack of cognitive awareness leads to fearful and anxious behavior.
Early diagnosis is important. If you notice any of these signs in yourself or someone you know, it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional. Contact Diamondback Healthcare Center for information about the Montessori-inspired living program in our Desert Diamond Memory Pavilion.