Alzheimer’s Disease: Understand the Symptoms
November 21, 2017Guest Blogger: Meredith Rogers, RN
Alzheimer’s Disease- Signs & Symptoms
Alzheimer’s disease signs and symptoms can be difficult to recognize, since most people experience some form of forgetfulness from time to time. That’s why it’s important to be able to tell the difference between normal memory lapses and Alzheimer’s symptoms. Alzheimer’s disease is a long gradual process. It will cause a person to eventually lose the ability to interact with others and perform daily tasks.
Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of dementia. This condition causes brain tissue to degenerate, which results in the loss of memory and other mental skills, such as thinking and reasoning. The risk for developing Alzheimer’s increases as a person gets older. According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. Most are over the age of 65.
Determine The Cause During The Early Signs of Alzheimer’s
Anyone who is showing signs of Alzheimer’s disease should have his symptoms evaluated by a doctor. It is possible that other health problems may be affecting one’s memory. Parkinson’s disease, stroke, head injuries, brain tumors, or epilepsy can cause memory problems. Depression, a lack of sleep, and certain medications can also be a factor.
A certain degree of memory loss is to be expected as a person ages. Sometimes this form of memory loss is mistaken for Alzheimer’s disease. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, forgetfulness should not be a cause for concern, unless it interferes with a person’s ability to function in everyday life. Alzheimer’s disease signs and symptoms include an inability to recognize family and friends, and getting lost in familiar places.
Other Alzheimer’s Symptoms
Memory loss is not the only indication of Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s symptoms can cause a person to become paranoid, defensive, or agitated. It can also cause poor judgment. This is why it is not uncommon for a person who has Alzheimer’s to fall for scams. He no longer has the ability make sound decisions with his money, and is susceptible to trusting the wrong people.
A person who has Alzheimer’s disease may also have a hard time performing familiar tasks, such as balancing a checkbook, cooking, or remembering and following the rules of a favorite game. The inability to concentrate makes it extremely difficult for people who have Alzheimer’s to take care of themselves. As a result, it can take them an unusually long time to do simple tasks.
Alzheimer’s disease also causes confusion with time. As a result, a person may have a hard time keeping track of the date. He may not know what day it is, the month, or the year. Furthermore, he may not be able to tell the difference between the past and present. Often, he will confuse experiences that he had in dreams with actual events.
