FEBRUARY 25, 2000


HEADLINES
 



HEALTH HAPPENINGS
MEDI-MINUTES
NATIONAL NOTES
 
 

HOME
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Did You Know?

10 Warning Signs of 
Early Alzheimer’s Disease

  1. Recent memory loss that affects job skills. It’s normal to forget people’s names from time to time, but frequent forgetfulness is cause for concern.
  2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks. Anyone can leave a button unbuttoned, but when someone is persistently challenged by tasks of daily living, that’s cause for concern.
  3. Language problems. Anyone can have difficulty finding the right word. But when simple words present problems or sentences become incomprehensible, that might signal Alzheimer’s.
  4. Time and place disorientation. It’s normal to forget the date or a destination. But people with Alzheimer’s often feel lost across the street from their homes.
  5. Loss of judgement. Anyone can fail to notice that an item of clothing is stained. But when someone dresses completely inappropriately—wearing several shirts or mistaking underwear for a hat—that’s cause for concern.
  6. Problems with abstract thinking. Anyone may struggle over balancing a checkbook. People with Alzheimer’s may forget what numbers are for or how to use them.
  7. Misplacing things. Anyone can misplace an item. But when someone puts a wallet in the refrigerator, or keys in the sink, that’s cause for concern.
  8. Changes in mood or behavior. Changing moods are a fact of life. But people with Alzheimer’s often exhibit rapid mood changes—from calm to tears to rage—for no apparent reason.
  9. Changes in personality. People often become more "crotchety" with age. But Alzheimer’s often makes people paranoid, very confused, or fearful.
  10. Loss of initiative. It’s normal to get bored with daily activities. But when people lose much of their get-up-and-go, that’s cause for concern.
For more information, contact the Alzheimer’s Association at 1-888-350-9993, or visit www.alzheimers.com.
Source: Alzheimer’s Association