The Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer's
Occasional lapses in memory are normal as we grow older, but the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are more than simple lapses in memory and goes beyond simple forgetfulness. It may start with slight memory loss and confusion, but it eventually leads to irreversible mental impairment that destroys a person's ability to remember, reason, learn and imagine. People with Alzheimer's disease experience problems severe enough to have an impact on an individual's work, social activities and family life. Most people with Alzheimer's share certain signs and symptoms of the disease. The common symptoms of Alzheimer may include:
- Loss of memory is one of the most common early symptoms of Alzheimer. But what begins as mild forgetfulness persists and worsens. A person begins to forget the recently learned information. This mild forgetfulness keeps on increasing and worsens. People with Alzheimer's may forget conversations; names and often misplace things.
- A person with Alzheimer's often finds it difficult to perform a familiar task. He may forget how to do even the most basic things. For example he may forget the steps involved in cooking food, turning on a TV. He may come to a particular room and then forget why he has come there.
- Change in personality is another common symptom with people of Alzheimer. They may exhibit swings in mood from calm to tears to anger, for no apparent reason. At times they may become extremely suspicious, confused, fearful or dependent on a family member. They may show distrust in others and show increased stubbornness. They may keep themselves away from social functions. With the progression of disease, people with Alzheimer's may become anxious or aggressive and behave inappropriately.
- People with Alzheimer's may have problems with abstract thinking. For example they may find it difficult to perform complex mental tasks, may have trouble balancing their checkbook, a problem that progresses to trouble recognizing and dealing with numbers.
- People with Alzheimer's can have disorientation to time and place and sometimes become lost in their own neighborhood. They forget where they are, how they got there, and are not able to get back home. They may even lose a sense of time and dates.
- People with Alzheimer's may have a poor or decreased judgment. They may find difficult to do the things that require planning, decision-making and judgment. Solving everyday problems, such as how to dress becomes increasingly difficult, eventually impossible. They may even show poor judgment, like giving away large sums of money to shopkeepers.
- People with Alzheimer's disease can have problems with language. They often forget simple words or substitute unusual words, making it difficult for the listener to understand. They may not be able to express their thoughts or follow conversations. Eventually, reading and writing may also be affected.
- A person with Alzheimer's disease is unable to plan anything and may become very passive at times. He may not feel to do anything even his usual day-to-day activities. He may sleep for hours or sit in front of the TV.
The person close to him gradually notices changes in a person with Alzheimer's. As the disease progresses, signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's become serious and noticeable enough to cause people with Alzheimer's or their family members to seek medical help. Many people with Alzheimer's disease realize that something is happening to their memory, which is often frightening. The course the disease takes and how rapidly changes occur vary from person to person.