Dementia is not an early form of Alzheimer's or some less serious disease, it is simply a catch-all term that describes Alzheimer's, Vascular Dementia, and other specific diseases.
Alzheimer's is the most common type, and Vascular Dementia is second most common.
Some people suffer from more than one type of dementia.
What's normal? Normal aging can cause some minor changes in memory or learning, but not in a way that affects functioning.
If you or someone who repeats frequently asked questions, has difficulty familiarizing their everyday lives, often can not find the right word, or is disoriented in time and place, are these signs of Alzheimer's or other dementia-type normal aging process.
It is important to get a good diagnosis, because there are some reversible causes of these symptoms.
It is important to get a thorough medical workup if you identify with these symptoms.
See below for the warning signs in relation to changes to normal age-related.
If you have concerns that a loved one might have some form of dementia, or if your loved one has been diagnosed a care manager can help in the initial stages by coordinating medical help to ensure a good diagnostic work, step by step, what to expect and options, and planning for the future.
Often, families have trouble because their loved one does not wish to acknowledge there is a problem and they do not know how to get them to accept help, or even go to a doctor for an evaluation.
A care manager can be used in strategizing ways to work through these challenges. There are many problems that can arise: the need for help at home, walking, driving relates knowing when it is time to consider a nursing home.
Warning Signs of Possible Alzheimer's or other form of Dementia:
1. Memory loss.
Forgetting recently learned information is one of the most common early signs of dementia. A person begins to forget more often and is not open to the information again later.
2. What is normal? Forget names or appointments occasionally.
Difficulty performing familiar tasks.
find people with dementia often difficult to plan or complete everyday tasks such as personal care and housekeeping.
Individuals may lose track of the steps involved in preparing a meal, placing a telephone call or playing a game.
3. Problems with language. People with Alzheimer's disease often forget simple words or substitute unusual words, the understanding of their language or writing hard. They may be unable to find the toothbrush, for example, and instead ask for ""that thing for my mouth"".
4. Disorientation to time and place. People with Alzheimer's disease in their own neighborhood could be lost, forget where they are and how they got there, and do not know how to get home.
5. Decreased Judgement. Those with Alzheimer's may dress inappropriately, wearing several layers on a warm day or little clothing in the cold.
You can judge poor ability to show how giving away large sums of money to telemarketers. What's normal? Making a questionable or debatable decision from time to time
6. Problems with abstract thinking. Someone with Alzheimer's disease may have unusual difficulty performing complex mental tasks, like forgetting what numbers are for and how they should be used.
7. Misplacing things. A person with Alzheimer's disease, the things in unusual places: an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl.
8. Changes in mood or behavior. Someone with Alzheimer's disease may show rapid mood swings - from calm to tears to anger - for no apparent reason.
9. Changes in personality. The personalities of people with dementia can change dramatically.
They may become extremely confused, suspicious, fearful or dependent on a family member.
10. Loss of initiative. A person with Alzheimer's disease can be very passive, sitting for hours watching television, sleeping more than usual or not do usual activities.
We encourage you to seek a diagnostic workup if you see these signs in yourself or a loved one. Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or other diseases causing dementia is an important step in the right treatment, care and support.
