Alzheimer’s is a very serious condition that affects nearly 44 million people worldwide annually and can be treated but not cured. It’s important to understand that many of the cognition and personality changes that could be a sign of Alzheimer’s could also be typical signs of aging and are perfectly normal. Learn the differences and perform simple tests that can tell you if they’re related to Alzheimer’s or not. If you do believe the person suffers from Alzheimer’s, have them see a doctor as soon as possible.
Recognizing Changes in Cognition
1Notice disruptive memory loss. Memory loss is one of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s. Be especially aware of memory loss that occurs Short-term memory tends to go before long-term.
- Try telling the person several pieces of new information and then ask them to recount that information about 10 minutes later.
2Notice a tendency to misplacing things. People with Alzheimer’s often leave their belongings in strange places and have difficult retracting their steps. People with Alzheimer’s also have a tendency to accuse others of stealing their belongings when they can’t find them.
- Ask them where essential personal belongings that they use everyday are like their wallet, keys, or phone.
3Notice challenges in problem solving. Inability to follow a plan, solve problems, or work with numbers are all hallmarks of Alzheimer’s. Early stage Alzheimer’s patients will have trouble understanding complexities and multi-step problems.
- If you are in a car with them, ask them how to get to a local grocery or drug store.
- Ask them to solve an algebraic or long division math problem. These math problems require multiple steps to work out and will do a better job of demonstrating their problem-solving ability than addition or subtraction.
4Notice confusion with time or place. It is common for people with Alzheimer’s to lose track of time and dates. They can also lose track of where they are and how they got there.
- Ask them what month it is or what season it is.
5Notice speech problems. People with Alzheimer’s often lose track of a conversation they’re having or struggle to follow along. They may also mangle common words or phrases or repeat themselves.
- Give them a series of relatively long words with many syllables that you would expect them to know like “magnanimous,” “unencumbered,” and “perfidiousness” and ask them to repeat them back.
Recognizing Changes in Personality
1Notice social withdrawal. People with Alzheimer’s often lose interest in their hobbies, friendships, work, or social activities. This may be caused by the difficulties of their condition or a general blasé attitude toward their interests.
- If you know they follow sports or politics, ask them about their favorite team or what they think about current events.
2Notice changes in mood. Alzheimer’s often causes abrupt changes in their mood and relationship with others. Look out for irregular expressions of confusion, anger, suspicion, depression, fear, or anxiety. Pay particular attention to how they behave when they are around new people or otherwise outside their comfort zone.
3Notice poor judgement. People with Alzheimer’s often show poor judgement and decision-making ability. Watch out for a tendency to spend money unwisely or give money to telemarketers. They may also keep poor hygiene and an unkempt appearance.
Understanding the Stages of Alzheimer’s
1Understand mild decline stages. The early stages of Alzheimer’s may see only a minor decline in cognition or change in personality. It will be more difficult to decisively determine the person has Alzheimer’s but there are still some basic signs to look for. Ultimately, you’ll need a CTE scan from a doctor to confirm.
- Look for a tendency to fumble over words, trouble remembering names, gaps in short-term memory, and trouble organizing thoughts.
2Understand moderate decline stages. The middle stages of Alzheimer’s usually last the longest and will require some level of assistance to care for the person. Periods of anger, odd behavior, and changes in their hygiene or appearance usually occur. Their forgetfulness will likely start to extend from short-term memory into longer-term aspects of their personal history. There may also be troubles with bladder and bowel control.
3Understand severe decline stages. The later stages of Alzheimer’s come with serious consequences that will require round-the-clock assistance for their personal care. They will often lose their ability to relate with their surrounding environment and memorize even basic aspects of their personal history like their name. They often lose the ability to perform core physical activities like walking and even swallowing.
Sources and Citations
- ↑ http://www.alzheimers.net/resources/alzheimers-statistics/
- ↑ http://www.alz.org/care/dementia-memory-loss-problems-confusion.asp
- ↑ http://www.helpforalzheimersfamilies.com/dementia-support-network/hiding-misplacing-things-rummaging/
- ↑ https://www.alz.org/national/documents/10warningsigns.pdf
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/expert-answers/sundowning/faq-20058511
- ↑ http://www.alz.org/dementia/fronto-temporal-dementia-ftd-symptoms.asp
- ↑ http://www.dementiaguide.com/symptomlibrary/leisureactivities/social_interaction/
- ↑ http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/caregiver-272883-5.html
- ↑ http://www.dementiaguide.com/symptomlibrary/thinkingjudgement/judgment/
- ↑ http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_stages_of_alzheimers.asp
- ↑ http://www.helpguide.org/articles/alzheimers-dementia/alzheimers-disease.htm
- ↑ http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/guide/alzheimers-disease-stages