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Alzheimer's
disease is a progressive, degenerative disease. Symptoms include loss
of memory, difficulty with day-to-day tasks, and changes in mood and
behaviour. People may think these symptoms are part of normal aging but
they aren't. It is important to see a doctor when you notice any of
these symptoms as they may be due to other conditions such as
depression or an infection.
To
help you know what warning signs to look for, the Alzheimer Society has
developed the following list:
- Memory loss that
affects day-to-day function
It's normal to occasionally forget appointments, colleagues' names or a
friend's phone number and remember them later. A person with Alzheimer's disease may forget things more often and not remember them later,
especially things that have happened more recently.
- Difficulty
performing familiar tasks
Busy people can be so distracted from time to time that they may leave
the carrots on the stove and only remember to serve them at the end of
a meal. A person with Alzheimer's disease may have trouble with tasks
that have been familiar to them all their lives, such as preparing a
meal.
- Problems
with language
Everyone has trouble finding the right word sometimes, but a person
with Alzheimer's disease may forget simple words or substitute words,
making her sentences difficult to understand.
- Disorientation
of time and place
It's normal to forget the day of the week or your destination -- for a
moment. But a person with Alzheimer's disease can become lost on their
own street, not knowing how they got there or how to get home.
- Poor
or decreased judgment
People may sometimes put off going to a doctor if they have an
infection, but eventually seek medical attention. A person with
Alzheimer's disease may have decreased judgment, for example not
recognizing a medical problem that needs attention or wearing heavy
clothing on a hot day.
- Problems
with abstract thinking
From time to time, people may have difficulty with tasks that require
abstract thinking, such as balancing a cheque book. Someone with
Alzheimer's disease may have significant difficulties with such tasks,
for example not recognizing what the numbers in the cheque book mean.
- Misplacing
things
Anyone can temporarily misplace a wallet or keys. A person with
Alzheimer's disease may put things in inappropriate places: an iron in
the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl.
- Changes
in mood and behaviour
Everyone becomes sad or moody from time to time. Someone with Alzheimer's
disease can exhibit varied mood swings -- from calm to tears to anger
-- for no apparent reason.
- Changes
in personality
People's personalities can change somewhat with age. But a person with
Alzheimer's disease can become confused, suspicious or withdrawn. Changes
may also include apathy, fearfulness or acting out of character.
- Loss
of initiative
It's normal to tire of housework, business activities or social
obligations, but most people regain their initiative. A person with
Alzheimer's disease may become very passive, and require cues and
prompting to become involved.
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Myth
or Reality?
"Because someone in my family has Alzheimer's
disease, I'm going to get it."
Verify
your answer
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