Every senior citizen and their close family members should know the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease. The disease itself is devastating to the person and their family, and the sooner the disease is diagnosed, the longer you have to prepare and educate yourself. Allowing you to spend more quality time with the person afflicted with this disease.
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease include more than merely losing your car keys once in a while or forgetting where you put your glasses. People with Alzheimer’s suffer memory loss because brain pathways no longer connect, and every aspect of the person’s life may be affected, including work, socialization, and unusual or bizarre behavior.
In the early stages of Alzheimer’s Disease, problems with concentration, memory, and thinking clearly might signify that a test for the disease is in order. A person in the beginning stages may need minimal help with simple tasks and routines such as doing dishes or cooking a meal. They may get lost in areas that are familiar to them and confused about the day and time.
Later symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease may include trouble making judgments, even for trivial decision-making. Changes in speech, like slurring or beginning a sentence but not completing the sentence. As the disease progresses and more brain cells are affected, these conditions will worsen.
What are the Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease? Symptoms of Early and Late-Stage Alzheimer’s Disease
Although there is yet no cure for Alzheimer’s Disease and no single test that can pinpoint a diagnosis, there are early tests that can determine if this disease is the likely culprit for the symptoms or other reasons for memory and skill loss. Your health care provider will probably begin with simple tests that check your memory and different mental abilities. They will also want to know your medical history, including any injuries, surgeries, or illnesses, and how you’re accomplishing specific daily tasks.
Medication history is also part of any medical examination that seeks to detect or reject the possibility of Alzheimer’s. Side effects from overdosing or combining certain medications with others are common causes of memory loss and confusion.
Your health care provider may also order a neurological exam. Tests for coordination, movement, walking, and sensory functioning may show problems with the nervous system that are causing thinking and behavior problems.
If you’re seeking assistance for yourself or a loved one and suspect that Alzheimer’s Disease may be the cause of problems you’re experiencing, go to your primary health care provider first. There are currently no doctors who specialize specifically in the disease, but your primary provider should be able to order tests and refer you to specialists.