Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common types of dementia, and it now affects more than seven million Americans today. While it is most prevalent in people aged 65 or older, it can sometimes also strike people in their 30s and 40s. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, which means that it gets worse over time, and knowing the signs of Alzheimer’s is key to helping your loved ones get an accurate diagnosis as early as possible, which can allow them to live the best life with the disease they possibly can, and in some cases even slow down the progression of the disease to help them retain their cognitive abilities and independence for longer.
One of the first signs of Alzheimer’s, and one of the ones most everybody is familiar with, is memory loss. What can be difficult in many cases is differentiating memory loss due to Alzheimer’s from the normal bouts of occasional forgetfulness that is a normal part of the aging process. The key difference is while it is normal for older adults to forget the occasional minor thing, when it happens consistently, that is a red flag to look out for.
Some of the specific signs of Alzheimer’s include repeatedly asking the same questions, getting lost in places that should be familiar to them, forgetting about and neglecting their personal hygiene or eating, or failing to recognize or remember people that they should know. Should you notice any of these signs occurring, it is a very good idea to make an appointment with their doctor to determine if the problem is Alzheimer’s disease, or occurring for a different reason.
Another warning sign is when senior loved ones find themselves having difficulty or are unable to manage simple household finances like paying their bills. Also of note to be on the lookout for is excessive spending, purchasing things on impulse, or losing their wallets or cards. If you find they seem to have trouble doing basic math, or are giving away money and possessions for seemingly no reason, that could also be a sign.
For many seniors, experiencing problems and difficulties with driving can happen for a large number of reasons. While problems with hearing or vision are the cause much of the time, there are concerns that occur with Alzheimer’s. While those of us who have been driving for our entire adult lives may see driving as a simple, automatic behavior, it is truly a complex undertaking. Driving requires not only remembering how to get to and from places, but also remembering the rules of the road, observing and reacting to other cars on the road, and the methods of operating the motor vehicle. Driving problems like failing to obey traffic signs and signals, driving too slow or too fast, forgetting which pedals or switches are which, agitation while driving, or forgetting a destination during the trip can all be signs of Alzheimer’s, as well as an indication that it’s time for your loved on to turn in their car keys.