Did you know every 65 seconds, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s disease? Alzheimer’sis a brain disease that causes a decline in memory, thinking, and reasoning skills. Memory loss that disrupts your daily life may be a symptom of Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. It is important not to ignore these symptoms and schedule an appointment with your health care provider for more information.
Listed below are some signs and symptoms from the Alzheimer’s Association that could be early signs of dementia or memory loss.
· Challenges in planning or problem solving: Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills.
· Difficulty completing familiar tasks at work or home: People with Alzheimer’s often find it hard to complete daily tasks.
· Confusion of time or place: People with Alzheimer’s can lose track of dates, seasons, and the passage of time. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there.
· New difficulty with words in speaking or writing: People with Alzheimer’s may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue, or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name (e.g., calling a “watch” a“hand-clock”).
· Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps:A person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again.
· Decreased or poor judgement: For example, they may use poor judgement when dealing with money, giving large amounts to telemarketers.
· Withdrawal from work or social activities: A person with Alzheimer’s may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities,work projects, or sports. They also may avoid being social because of the changes they have experienced.
· Changes in mood or personality: They can become confused,suspicious, depressed, fearful, or anxious. They may be easily upset at home,at work, with friends, or in places where they are out of their comfort zone.
Please feel free to join us for our Monthly Support Group held at The Bridges at Ankeny every 3rd Wednesday of the month from 6:30-8 PM
For more information, contact: Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline:1-800-272-3900.
Information above provided by the source: www.alz.org
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