Dementia impacts the lives of an estimated 50 million people worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, another 10 million cases are diagnosed each year. Of those living with dementia, Alzheimer’s is by far the most common type, making up nearly 80% of cases. In the United States alone, almost 6 million people have Alzheimer’s. As the population continues to age, researchers believe this number will climb higher.
Most people think Alzheimer’s just means memory problems, or seniors getting lost when they leave the house. But while those are the classic symptoms, they’re not the only ones, and there are more symptoms that are easy to miss or mistake as something else.
- Change in disposition: If a senior loved one has undergone a noticeable change in their manner and mood, discuss it with their doctor. If your loved one was previously open and friendly, and is now becoming short tempered and suspicious, it may be a sign of Alzheimer’s.
- Financial mismanagement: Another red flag that is easily overlooked is making mistakes with their finances. Older adults are often the target of scams and grifts, which can cause family members to fail to realize something is wrong. Other warning signs include making purchases they can’t afford, or loaning out sums of money to people they barely know.
- Social withdrawal: When older adults begin to realize something is wrong, they may be afraid to admit it. This can often result in self isolation.
- Difficulty writing: Verbal skills aren’t the only communication that suffers with Alzheimer’s. For some, an early warning sign is difficulty writing something as simple as a grocery list.