Alzheimer’s disease is a debilitating and difficult disease for the patient and family. Managing it can be complicated. The disease is not the same for everyone, and early diagnosis is very important.
The process of aging changes many of our functional skills. The chart below describes the difference that may be seen with a person developing Alzheimer’s Disease, versus the normal signs of aging.
Typical age-related memory loss and other changes compared to Alzheimer's
|
Signs of Alzheimer's |
Typical age-related changes |
|
Poor judgment and decision making |
Making a bad decision once in a while |
|
Inability to manage a budget |
Missing a monthly payment |
|
Losing track of the date or the season |
Forgetting which day it is and remembering later |
|
Difficulty having a conversation |
Sometimes forgetting which word to use |
|
Misplacing things and being unable to retrace steps to find them |
Losing things from time to time |
Using this chart as an example, the differences that you see with the symptoms of developing Alzheimer’s Disease, is the disruption of thinking process that have to do with the loss of higher executive thinking skills. The problematic behaviors may start out happening rarely, but may be demonstrated frequently, with varying degrees of severity.
If you see these symptoms it is important for you to share the information with your family doctor. If you are not satisfied with the suggestions or treatment that is prescribed, seek out a second opinion. An early diagnosis can allow you to benefit from early treatment options and information about potential clinical studies that may be appropriate.
Source: www.alz.org
