Alzheimer's is, sadly, a common form of dementia afflicting
the elderly. This disease is inevitably fatal, and its
progress horrifying. Alzheimer's is a degenerative disease
which takes away the last years that the afflicted has with
their loved ones. The benefits of having family and friends
present in ones old age is cruelly stolen from these
sufferers, along with the debilitating physical and mental
effects of the disease.
There are three distinct stages to the progression of
Alzheimer's disease, each with its own symptoms. These
stages are early, middle and late. The symptoms of each
stage are a bane to both patient and caregivers. It is in
the early stage when the disease is generally recognized by
the sufferer and when it is diagnosed by the physician.
Loss of memory is a common early symptom of Alzheimer's,
especially when it comes to smells. In studies, researchers
have found a scratch and sniff test to be an effective
screening tool for Alzheimer's disease. However, not every
doctor's office has these sorts of tests available.
Detecting Alzheimer's disease early, as with any disease,
is crucial to slowing it's progress. This leads to a longer
life expectancy for the patient, with increased quality of
life. The smell test is a great tool for early diagnosis, a
test which one can only hope will become more widespread.
It is not uncommon to have the odd memory lapse as one
ages, but these memory lapses are not like those
experienced by those suffering from Alzheimer's. The
Alzheimer's Association has created a checklist, which
families and those who suspect they may suffer from the
disease alike may consult when trying to determine if an
evaluation by a physician is warranted. Like any disease, a
doctor would much rather have a disease turn out not to be
present after a visit than to have no contact with a
patient who turns out to have the disease.
This checklist contains ten signs of possible Alzheimer's.
One is memory loss beyond that normally seen in older
people and if this sort of memory loss is seen, it is
probably time to consult with your physician.
Early warning signs of Alzheimer's include having a hard
time with everyday tasks like cooking or dialing the phone.
Finding oneself literally at a loss for words (as in,
common words are simply forgotten) is another symptom.
Those afflicted with the disease will commonly become lost
and disoriented in surroundings which heretofore had been
familiar to them. Lapses in judgment as well as memory are
also common, for instance wearing shorts and a t-shirt in
mid winter.
A hard time with mental tasks, losing things and mood
swings also are common for those undergoing the onset of
Alzheimer's. Loss of motivation is also seen quite often,
as are personality changes including increased anxiety and
suspicion. The person might spend hours in front of the
television.
If you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself or in a
loved one, the best thing to do is make an appointment with
a doctor and find out if it is Alzheimer's or not. There is
hope if it is diagnosed early.
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