How to Know If It’s More than Normal Aging
Over the past quarter of a century, there’s been much public awareness of dementia and Alzheimer’s. According to research conducted at Johns Hopkins University, there are more than 6 million Americans currently living with a dementia diagnosis, and as many as three million new cases diagnosed every year. Researchers say, though, that those numbers don’t mean that anyone experiencing memory problems is necessarily showing signs of dementia. Most people won’t suffer any significant loss of memory in their lives. About four in ten people can anticipate some memory loss, particularly after the age of 65, but only about 5-8% will actually develop any level of dementia. Nonetheless, it can be helpful to know the early warning signs of Alzheimer’s or dementia, so that you can get the necessary care.
The Early Indications of Alzheimer’s
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, here are some of the early warning signs of possible dementia:
- Memory loss that negatively affects your daily life—We all forgot things all the time, either because they weren’t important enough to us or our brains are fully occupied by other things. Consistently forgetting important dates, asking the same questions over a short period of time or relying heavily on memory aids, such as notes or alarms, can be a sign. Of course, it can also be an indication that your life is too busy.
- Difficulty solving relatively simple problems—Forgetting how to make an old recipe, forgetting how the washer and dryer work or failing to pay bills on time. Getting lost while driving in familiar locations, forgetting the words to a familiar song or missing regular appointments or events are also common signs.
- Forgetting where you are or why you are where you are—Losing the ability to keep track of time, dates or the ages of others
- Challenges with spatial relationships or visual cues—Persons in the early stages of dementia often misjudge distances or speed while driving, or may experience balance issues or have difficulty reading
- An uncharacteristic unwillingness to talk—Many people, as they struggle with the early onset of dementia, become less talkative, mostly out of fear that they are repeating themselves. It’s also common for them to make statements that are totally unrelated to the subject matter of a conversation.
- Forgetting where you left something—We all do this, too, but someone with early dementia will likely experience this on an almost ongoing basis
November is national Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. Learn the early indications of dementia so that you can help loved ones have a better quality of life.
