Alzheimer’s disease (pronounced Alz’-hi-merz) is a progressive, degenerative disease that attacks the brain and results in impaired memory, thinking and behavior. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Dementia is a loss of intellectual function (thinking, remembering and reasoning) so severe that it interferes with an individual’s daily functioning and eventually results in death. AD is the fourth leading cause of death in adults, after heart disease, cancer and stroke. Men and women are affected almost equally. Dr. Alois Alzheimer first described the disease in 1906.Since then, researchers have developed a deeper understanding of the changes in the brain (plaques and tangles) and behavioral changes that characterized the disease. Identified risk factors are age and family history. Most people diagnosed with AD are older than age 65; however, AD can occur in people in their 40’s and 50’s.
Is It Alzheimer’s – Ten Warning Signs
1. RECENT MEMORY LOSS AFFECTS JOB SKILLS
It’s normal to occasionally forget appointments, acquaintance names, telephone numbers, and remember them later. Those with dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) may forget things more often, and not remember them later. They may repeatedly ask the same question not remembering they were given the answer.
2. DIFFICULTY PERFORMING FAMILIAR TASKS
Busy people can be so distracted from time to time that they may leave the carrots on the stove and only remember to serve them at the end of the meal. People with AD could prepare a meal and not only forget to serve it, but also forget they made it.
3. PROBLEM WITH LANGUAGE
Everyone has trouble finding the right word sometimes, but can finish the sentence with another appropriate word. A person with AD may forget simple words, or substitute inappropriate words, making their sentence incomprehensible.
4. DISORIENTATIN OF TIME AND PLACE
It’s normal to forget the day of the week or your destination for a moment. But people with AD may become lost on their own street or in familiar places, not knowing where they are, how they got there or how to get back home.
5. POOR OR DECREASED JUDGEMENT
People can be so immersed in an activity or telephone conversation that they temporarily forget the child they’re watching. A person with AD could forget entirely the child under his care and leave the house to visit a neighbor. They may dress inappropriately, wearing several shirts or blouses.
6. PROBLEMS WITH ABSTRACT THINKING
People who normally balance their checkbooks may be momentarily confused about the figuring and make an occasional mistake. However, a person with AD may not recognize the significance of the numbers, make several mistakes in figuring, or not remember to balance the checkbook at all.
7. MISPLACING THINGS
Anyone can misplace a wallet or keys, but eventually finds them by thinking over where he or she last used them. A person with AD may “hide” things (especially money) or put things in inappropriate places; an iron in the freezer, or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl, money in books or the toilet, dentures in the garbage, etc.
8. CHANGES IN MOOD OR BEHAVIOR
Everyone has a bad day once in a while, or may become sad or moody from time to time. Someone with AD can exhibit rapid mood swings from calm to tears to anger in a few minutes for no apparent reason.
9. CHANGES IN PERSONALITY
People’s personalities ordinarily change somewhat at different ages, as character traits strengthen or mellow. But a person with AD can change drastically, becoming extremely confused, irritable, aggressive, suspicious or fearful.
10. LOSS OF INITIATIVE
It’s normal to tire of housework, business activities or social obligations, but most people regain their initiative. The person with AD may become passive and require cues and prompting to get involved in activities.
