Warning Signs

Age related dementia and Alzheimer's disease cause many problems for patients and their families. Common symptoms for Alzheimer's and other age related dementia are listed below, but not everyone has all of these signs.

1. Short term memory loss - Forgetting appointments or names with recalling them later.
2. Difficulty performing daily familiar tasks - unable to remember how to cook or do a favorite hobby.
3. Problems with language - Not remember the correct work for something common. Uses simple words or unusual words.
4. Disorientation to time and place - Not recognizing the difference of morning vs evening, forgetting where they are or how they got there and how to get back home.
5. Problems with abstract thinking - Forgetting how to balance a checkbook.
6. Misplacing things - Will put things in unusual locations and doesn't even remember that they have keys.
7. Poor or decreased judgement - Dressing inappropriately for the weather or not using judgement about their money.
8. Changes in mood or behavior - Rapid mood swings from calm to tears to anger with no apparent reason.
9. Changes in personality - Confused, agitated, suspicious and dependent.
10. Loss of initiative - Not wanting to do usual activities, sleeping or watching tv for hours.

If you recognize any of there warning signs in yourself or a loved one, consult your physician for further evaluation. Early evaluation is key in getting the benefits of the medications currently available. IMPORTANT NOTE:Even if your loved one has some of these problems, they may not have Alzheimer's disease. Many treatable health conditions have the same signs. Among them are:

• Prescription drug interations and side effects
• The combined effect of weight loss/gain and medications
• Dehydration
• Vitamin B 12 deficiency
• Falls and concussions
• Depression
• Heavy alcohol use

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