Alzheimer's, a fatal and progressive brain disease, currently affects as many as 5.3 million Americans, according to the Alzheimer's Association. It not only destroys brain cells, but robs its victims of their memory and ability to function. Recognizing the early signs of this disease is key to early treatment, which may slow its progression.
Memory Loss
The first sign of Alzheimer's, loss of memory, is not a normal part of aging when it interferes with daily life, according to the Alzheimer's Association. The most common signs of this include forgetting recently learned information, asking the same information repeatedly, and forgetting important dates such as your anniversary or birthday.
Difficulty Solving Problems
Those who work may find their abilities to perform tasks are changing. If they work with numbers or have to follow a specific plan, it may be difficult to do so. When at home, using familiar recipes to prepare meals may not be as easy as it once was. Monthly bills may fall behind due to inability to keep track and pay them.
Problems With Familiar Tasks
The Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation states that another sign of Alzheimer's is difficulty to perform or plan everyday tasks. The Alzheimer's Association concurs, adding that driving to a familiar location, remembering the rules for a familiar card game or placing a phone call can be challenging.
Time or Place Confusion
If your loved one has Alzheimer's, you may notice he loses track of the season, date and time. Minutes and hours no longer mean anything to him, and if an event is not taking place at that precise moment, he has difficulty understanding it. It is also common for him to forget where he is, even if it is his own home and how he got there.
Trouble With Visual Images
Vision problems are a sign of Alzheimer's for some people, and can affect a person's ability to read, determine color or judge distance, especially while driving. When walking past a mirror in the room, she may believe another person is in the room with her, not realizing she is the person in the mirror.
Difficulty Speaking or Writing
Those with Alzheimer's have a problem joining or maintaining a conversation. It is normal for them to stop talking in the middle of a conversation without a clue about what he was saying or how to continue saying it. Vocabulary is a problem as well, and using the wrong word or calling things by the wrong name is common.
Losing Valuable Items
The Alzheimer's Association states that those with this disease have a tendency to misplace valuable items, forgetting where they put them. In some cases, they will accuse others of stealing them. This is due in part to the fact that they lose the ability to retrace their steps and find the item themselves.
Poor Judgment
Poor judgment comes in many forms with the Alzheimer's patient. He may give large amounts of money to the pizza delivery boy or to a telemarketer. He may also go days without bathing himself or changing his clothes, hence the need for a caregiver at this stage.
Becoming Withdrawn
Becoming withdrawn is yet another sign of Alzheimer's disease. You may notice your loved one has withdrawn herself from her favorite activities. If she attended bingo every week and has suddenly stopped, or stops performing her work duties with no reasonable explanation, it may be a sign of Alzheimer's.
Social withdrawal, according to the Alzheimer's Association, may also be due to embarrassment over her recent changes.
Changes in Mood
Alzheimer's can cause a change in both mood and personality of those with Alzheimer's. Not only can a person become confused, but he may also become fearful, anxious or depressed. It is common for him to become easily upset or agitated when he is home, or when he feels uncomfortable.
