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Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease

We have all have had times when we couldn’t remember the right word to say in a conversation or we forgot where we put something. This is normal. But if these things seem to be happening more often than not, or everyday tasks are becoming more difficult, something serious may be occurring and your healthcare provider should be consulted.

Dementia is a general term for brain changes that affect our daily lives. Language skills, memory loss, shortened attention span, trouble focusing, completing everyday tasks, and problem solving skills may all be affected. In 2024, the Alzheimer Association reported nearly 7 million Americans have Alzheimer’s, which is the most common type of dementia. According to the World Health Organization, dementia is the seventh leading cause of death globally.

Common warning signs of dementia include having difficulty with everyday tasks like keeping track of monthly bills, following a recipe when cooking, playing a card or board game, remembering how to use a common piece of equipment in the house (like a can opener), or even telling the time on a watch. Concentrating on doing or completing tasks, or placing things in unusual places (like keys in the refrigerator) and not being able to recall where they are may indicate dementia.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, asking the same question over and over again, or telling the same story multiple times about a recent event might indicate early warning signs of Alzheimer’s. Communication problems like stopping in the middle of a thought, struggling to think of words or the names of objects, or having difficulty participating in conversations might occur. Losing interest in family, friends, work, or social events may cause people to want to stay home. Becoming apathetic over time may indicate the disease is progressing from mild dementia to a more advanced stage of the disease.

The Mayo Clinic reports people with dementia may also have difficulty with visual and spatial abilities and cause them to get lost when driving. People may forget where they are or how they got there. Forgetting what day of the week or time of the day may be signs of dementia.

Personality changes are also signs of dementia. People can become anxious, confused, fearful, easily upset or mad, an even depressed if they have dementia. Troubling behavior like using poor judgement when handling money or neglecting to take care of their appearance may occur.

If you notice one or more signs in yourself or another person, it can be difficult to know what to do. It’s natural to feel uncertain or nervous about discussing these changes with others. Voicing worries about your own health might make them seem more “real.” Or, you may fear upsetting someone by sharing observations about changes in his or her abilities or behavior. However, these are significant health concerns that should be evaluated by a doctor, and it’s important to take action to figure out what’s going on.

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