Ten Warning Signs for Alzheimer's Disease - Must Read for Caregivers

Alzheimer's is NOTa sign of normal aging... it is a degenerative disease, and the most common form of dementia.  Although the course of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is unique for everyone, there are some common symptoms.  The earliest symptoms are often overlooked, or chalked up to normal aging, depression, or stress.

To help you keep figure out what is normal aging and what might be a sign of early Alzheimer's we've compiled a list of 10 warning signs, as well as 10 normal age related changes:

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life - Memory loss is probably the most common symptom that is associated with Alzheimer's disease.  Signs to watch for is forgetting recently learned information, forgetting important names, dates and events, asking for the same information repeatedly.  Another change to watch for is relying on memory aides like sticky notes, or family members to handle things that were once managed by themselves. *A normal age related change: occasionally forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later. 
2. Challenges in planning, or solving problems - The change to watch for is difficulty developing or following a plan or working with numbers.  An example would be, difficulty following a familiar recipe, counting cross-stitch, or basic computing of numbers.  They may have difficulty concentrating and take longer to do sequential tasks than previously.  *A normal age related change: Making occasional errors when balancing the checkbook.
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks - be it at home, at work or at leisure.  People with Alzheimer's Disease may have trouble driving to a familiar place, managing a budget, or remembering the rules to a favorite game, or completing other daily tasks. *A normal age related change: Occasionally needing help setting up a recording on the television, or operating the microwave.
4. Confusion with time and place - A warning sign would be if your loved one forgets where they are and how they got there.  People with AD can loose track of dates, seasons, and loose the concept that time is passing.  They may also have trouble understanding something that isn't presently happening. *A normal age related change: getting confused about the day of the week, but realizing the mistake later.
5. Difficulty understanding visual images and spacial relationships - Having vision problems may be a sign of Alzheimer's for some.  Look for difficulty reading, judging distance, color, or contrast.  A more significant warning sign would be passing a mirror and thinking someone else is in the room and not realizing that they are the image in the mirror.  *A normal age related change: Vision decline due to cataracts. 
6. New problems with words in speaking or writing- People with AD may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may repeat themselves, or they may start a conversation and then loose track completely and not be able to continue.  They may also have trouble finding the right word for something, so instead they describe it (eg: calling a watch a wrist-clock). This warning sign is easily missed. *A normal age related change: Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.
7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps - Putting things in unusual places is another warning sign, like putting eye glasses in the fridge. Or they may loose something and be unable to retrace their steps... so they accuse someone of stealing from them.  Look for this to occur more frequently over time.  *A normal age related change: misplacing things from time to time, like the remote, a hearing aid, or even eye glasses.
8. Poor or decreased judgment- For example, a person may use poor decision making when dealing with money, like giving large amounts to telemarketers.  Or a person may not pay attention to personal grooming, hygiene, or nutrition. *A normal age related change: Making a bad decision once in a while. 
9. Withdrawal from hobbies, work or social activities - They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team, or remembering how to complete a favorite hobby.  They may also being social because of the new changes.  *A normal age related change: Sometimes feeling weary of work, family, or social obligations.
10. Changes in mood and personality - a warning sign would be if your loved one's personality shifted towards becoming suspicious, confused, irritable, depressed, fearful, or anxious. *A normal age related change: developing a very specific way of doing things and becoming anxious or irritable when that routine was disrupted.

Information collected from alz.org

If you suspect that someone you are caring for is showing any of these warning signs of Alzheimer's disease it is important that you ask to discuss it with their doctor promptly.  Observe, and take notes of any behavior that raises a red flag and mention it, with their permission, at their next doctor's appointment.  A doctor may administer a Mini Mental State Examination, and may even take a brain scan.  This can serve as a helpful baseline to see any potential regression in the future.

Click For More Information on Alzheimer's Disease.