Do you or a Loved One Have Alzheimer’s?
Signs You or Your Loved One May Have Alzheimer’s
You see some differences. You are not sure what it is. Should you be worried, or not? Doctors remind patients that just because you may have a symptom or two, this does NOT necessarily mean that you have Alzheimer’s. This also does not mean you have dementia, which is caused by Alzheimer’s about half to 80% of the time. Sometimes loss of memory can be attributed to a deficiency in B12, sometimes it can be caused by a malfunction in the liver, kidney, brain, or thyroid. To help more quickly diagnose if you have Alzheimer’s Disease, take a look to see if you have the following symptoms.
The most common symptom of Alzheimer’s Disease is memory loss. This is different from forgetfulness. People of all ages can suffer from memory loss due to anxiety, depression, or stress. You make think that you are showing signs of dementia if these arise as you age, but that is not necessary true. Memory loss is a more severe and different scenario. An older person who is suffering from memory loss will not remember what happened two minutes prior, versus just forgetting a person’s name or a small detail in a pervious conversation. Memory loss is actually not a normal part of the aging process, but rather is a sign that something is not right.
Mood swings and agitation is another sign of Alzheimer’s in an elderly person who is usually even keeled and generally calm and cheerful. If a senior starts to become erratic in behavior and has builds up a habit of pacing to and fro, concentrated on details such as dates, places, and specific people, which in turn causes them to become confused and distressed on an extreme level, this could be a tell tale sign of Alzheimer’s Disease. If you are a caretaker of someone who is suffering from Alzheimer’s, keep in mind that big change such as moving one from a home to a nursing facility, can be a trigger for anxiety and emotion.
If you are the loved one of a senior suffering from Alzheimer’s, a great way to care for them is to take control of their finances. As Alzheimer’s Disease takes over the brain, numbers of any kind, especially in regards to money, will become confusing to a person. This also applies to every day normal duties, such as cooking, cleaning, or any other household chores as simple as watering plants. But it is not just the chores that they may forget about. Playing a favorite game may become difficult, or other favorite pastime hobbies or actives.