Warning Signs: Is it Alzheimer's?

The holidays provide a great opportunity to bring families together and take stock of how everyone has changed. For families with elderly relatives, getting together also provides a chance for others to notice whether someone is exhibiting early warning signs of Alzheimer's disease. The Alzheimer's Association reports that relatives too often miss signs and fail to act, delaying treatment and planning.

It's during these visits that families may notice a change in their loved one's health or behavior. Families need to recognize changes in behavior and be able to identify the warning signs of Alzheimer's disease so they can take appropriate action.

Ten Warning Signs of Alzheimer's disease Memory loss that affects job skills Difficulty performing familiar tasks Problems with language Disorientation to time and place Poor or decreased judgment Problems with abstract thinking Misplacing things Changes in mood or behavior Changes in personality Loss of initiative

Nearly five million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, which is characterized by a progressive dementia that robs people of their memories. With people living longer and the Baby Boom generation (those born 1946 to 1964) aging, the population afflicted with the disease is rapidly rising. As many as 16 million Americans are expected to be diagnosed with it by the year 2050.

Although there is still no cure for Alzheimer's, two decades of research have yielded new drugs and treatments that are providing some optimism for Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers. New research not only emphasizes treatment, but also prevention and early recognition of the disease. Evidence shows that the earlier Alzheimer's patients are treated with the available drugs, the better the results.

Alzheimer's disease usually starts after age 65, but it can start as early as age 40. The disease may start as simple forgetfulness, which gets progressively worse, rendering a person unable to tend to daily routines such as dressing or showering, or hobbies like golfing or gardening.

According to an Alzheimer's Association survey, Americans often confuse warning signs of Alzheimer's disease with memory loss associated with normal aging and fail to recognize other thinking difficulties as warning signs.

One half of Americans incorrectly believe that normal forgetfulness, such as failing to remember where one left the house keys or parked the car, is symptomatic of Alzheimer's disease, according to the survey.

Forgetting where you put your keys is not Alzheimer's; forgetting what to do with your keys is, experts say.

Researchers have discovered that mild memory loss, called mild cognitive impairment (MCI), can be a precursor to Alzheimer's disease. Patients with MCI have a 30 percent higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease than those who don't have MCI.

To help families better recognize symptoms of Alzheimer's disease compared to signs of normal aging, the Alzheimer's Association has many resources in its Web site at http://www.alz.org.

Ten warning signs of Alzheimer's disease:

• Memory loss that affects job skills
• Difficulty performing familiar tasks
• Problems with language
• Disorientation to time and place
• Poor or decreased judgment
• Problems with abstract thinking
• Misplacing things
• Changes in mood or behavior
• Changes in personality
• Loss of initiative

If a family member is showing these signs, the Alzheimer's Association says people may begin to seek treatment by contacting a doctor you feel comfortable with, which may be a primary care physician. Tests can be run to determine whether symptoms the patient is exhibiting may be a correctable form of dementia or whether further intervention and referral to a specialist is necessary.

Referral to a specialist may include psychological tests plus evaluations on their daily capabilities.

In addition to treatment for cognitive symptoms, families often seek help from physicians to alleviate behavioral symptoms that may accompany the progression of Alzheimer's. Often, behavioral problems can be alleviated by modifying a person's surroundings. Caregivers may need to adjust lighting, remove clutter and enhance safety by adjusting hot water temperature to prevent burns. In some cases, severe behavioral problems may be treated with medication.

Related Articles Alzheimer's Treating Alzheimer's If You Have Alzheimer's If You Are the Caregiver

External Sources The Alzheimer's Association. Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures 2007. The Alzheimer's Association. Publications. Accessed June 4, 2007.

This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.

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