Alzheimer’s is a degenerative brain disease whose cause is unknown and for which there is still no cure.
The following ten warning signs can help you understand if your memory loss is a serious health problem. If you notice any of the following signs in yourself or in someone close to you, do not ignore them and see your doctor as soon as possible to confirm the cause. There are other diseases that can also show these signs, and some of these diseases are treatable.
1. Memory loss. Forgetting recently learned information is the most common early sign of Alzheimer’s disease. A person begins to forget more frequently, with an inability to recall recent information. They ask the same questions over and over again and cannot remember the answers.
Normal: It is normal to occasionally forget an assigned job, a colleague’s name, or a business partner’s phone number and then remember it later.
2. Difficulty in performing familiar tasks. People with Alzheimer’s often have difficulty planning or completing daily tasks. They may forget that they are preparing a meal, making a phone call or playing a game.
Normal: Occasionally forget why you walked into a room, or what you were going to say.
3. Have difficulty with language. People with Alzheimer’s disease will forget simple words to use, or fill sentences with incorrect words, and say or write incomprehensible statements.
Normal: Everyone has times when they cannot find the right words to use, but can still correctly use other words to complete sentences.
4. Loss of cognitive ability to recognize time and place. The person with Alzheimer’s disease may get lost in the street where he lives or in a familiar shopping mall, not knowing where he is, how to get there or how to get home.
Normal: It is normal to briefly forget what day of the week a particular day is or where you are going.
5. Impaired judgment. Those with Alzheimer’s disease may dress inappropriately, wearing several layers of clothing on hot days and very little clothing on cold days. They may be confused about their money, such as giving away large sums of money to telemarketers.
Normal: Sometimes a questionable or controversial decision is made.
6. Difficulty with abstract thinking. Patients with Alzheimer’s disease may have difficulty solving complex intellectual tasks, such as forgetting numbers, or how to use numbers.
Normal: Finding it difficult to balance a checkbook.
7. Forgetting where to put things. People with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in inappropriate places, such as putting an iron in the refrigerator or a watch in a bowl.
Normal: Can’t find your keys or wallet for a while.
8. Changes in mood or behavior. People with Alzheimer’s disease may show rapid sudden changes in mood for no apparent reason, such as changing from calm to sad to angry to calm again in a short period of time.
Normal: Everyone is unhappy or emotionally unstable at times.
9. Change in personality. The personality of a person with Alzheimer’s disease can change dramatically, becoming extremely confused, irritable, suspicious or frightened.
Normal: The personality of a person usually changes slightly with age, such as the personality becomes more intense or moderate.
10. Loss of spontaneity. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may become very passive, sitting in front of the TV for hours, sleeping more than normal or not wanting to do daily activities.
Normal: It is normal to get tired of housework, work commitments or social activities, but most people regain their spontaneity.