FAQS
10 Warning Signs
of Alzheimer's Disease
1. Recent Memory
Loss That Affects Job Skills
It's normal to occasionally forget assignments, colleagues'
names, or a business associate's telephone number, and
remember them later. Those with a dementia, such as
Alzheimer's disease, forget things more often and often
fail to remember them even when reminded.
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 Alzheimer's disease may have difficulty going through
the proper steps to prepare the carrots.
3. Problems With
Language
Everyone has trouble finding the right words sometimes,
but a person with Alzheimer's disease may forget simple
words or substitute inappropriate words, making their
sentences difficult to understand.
4. Disorientation
of Time and Place
It's normal to ocassionally forget the day of the week
or how to get where you are going. However, people with
Alzheimer's disease may become lost in familiar surrounding,
not knowing where they are, how they got there or how
to get back home.
5. Poor or Decreased
Judgment
People can become so immersed in an activity that they
temporarily forget about something else that are supposed
to be doing at the same time, such as watching a child.
People with Alzheimer's disease may entirely forget
about the child under their care. They may also dress
inappropriately for the weather or put no wearing several
shirts or blouses.
6. Problems With
Abstract Thinking
Balancing a checkbook may be disconcerting
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 keys. A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things
in inappropriate places: the ice cream in a kitchen cabinet
or the milk in the freezer.
8. Changes in Mood
and Behavior
Everyone becomes sad or moody from time to time. Someone
with Alzheimer's disease can exhibit rapid mood swings
– from calm to tears to anger, for no apparent
reason.
9. Changes in Personality
People's personalities may change slightly with age.
But a person with Alzheimer's disease can change drastically,
becoming extremely confused, 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 Alzheimer's disease
may become very passive and require cues and prompting
to become involved.
