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Signs & Symptoms of Memory Loss
Most seniors experience some sort of short term memory loss as they age but there are other things the cause loss of memory. Dementia is the overall disease but there are many forms; age related, stroke related, drug or alcohol induced, Alzheimer's and others. There are conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes can lead to dementia. It is important to know the signs so treatment can be sought early because we only have treatment to slow down the memory loss, not reverse it. These are common symptoms of short term memory loss but not everyone has all of these signs.
Recent memory loss. Everyone forgets things for awhile, but remembers them later. Dementia patients often forget things, and never remember them. They might ask the same question repeatedly, each time forgetting that you already answered it. They don't even remember they already asked the question.
Difficulty performing familiar tasks. Patients might cook a meal but forget to serve it. They might even forget cooking it.
Problems with language. Dementia patients may forget simple words or use the wrong words, making it hard to understand what they want, causing an outburst of anger directed at the person they're talking to.
Time and place disorientation. Patients may get lost on their own street, forgetting how they got to a certain place and how to get back home.
Poor judgment. Anyone might get distracted and forget to watch a child closely for a short time. Dementia patients might forget about the child and just leave the house for the day.
Problems with abstract thinking. Anyone might have trouble balancing a checkbook from time to time; dementia patients can forget what numbers are and how to use them.
Misplacing things. Patients may put things in the wrong places — an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl. Then they can't find them later.
Changes in mood. Everyone is moody occasionally, but patients may have fast mood swings, going from calm to tears to anger in just minutes.
Personality changes. Patients may have drastic changes in personality, often becoming irritable, suspicious or fearful.
Loss of initiative. Patients may become passive, not wanting to go places or see other people.
Important Note: Even if your loved one has some of these problems, they may not have Alzheimers. Many treatable health conditions have the same signs. Among them are:
--Prescription drugs interactions and side effects
--The combined effect of weight loss/gain and medications
--Dehydration
--Vitamin B12 deficiency
--Falls and concussions
--Depression
--Alcohol use
The symptoms can be brought on by degenerative diseases (e.g. Huntington's and Parkinson's diseases), vascular diseases or stroke, metabolic disorders (thyroid, liver kidney dysfunction or certain vitamin deficiencies), AIDS, drugs and alcohol, or psychiatric disorders. It is important to rule out other causes quickly.
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