Sign of Alzheimer’s Disease in a Loved One

The hallmark sign of Alzheimer’s disease is the loss of memory. Generally, those 65 years of age or older, begin to concern themselves with this disease at the first episodes of forgetfulness. Although forgetfulness is a sign of Alzheimer’s disease, it is important to note that there are other signals that may herald the onset of this malady. Therefore, being knowledgeable about Alzheimer’s, through exhibited signs, and is paramount for our loved one’s health as well as our own.

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There are several signs that one should look for if one believes a family member may be afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. They are:

* Memory Loss: This sign of Alzheimer’s disease may be confusing because forgetfulness can be a common trait that comes with aging for many individuals. The memory loss that a sufferer of Alzheimer’s disease suffers is different; it can often mean the forgetting important things, like the names of your grandchildren or your birth date. However, when these memory lapses become more frequent, it could be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease.
* Mental Health: Depression can also be a confusing and often a misread sign of Alzheimer’s disease because so many people can suffer from depression but be in good health. When depression is coupled with one or more of the sign of Alzheimer’s disease, it is cause for concern.
* Senses: This sign of Alzheimer’s disease can be confusing because, like memory loss, poor hearing and poor sight often come with increased age. However, look for other sensory problems like a heighten sense of smell or the inability to distinguish or detect strong odors.
* Mood: Another sign of Alzheimer’s disease may be extreme mood swings. Like depression, this can be difficult to detect in the elderly. Look for irrational mood swings from shedding tears of happiness to shedding tears of pain.
* Behavior: Odd behaviors are another sign of Alzheimer’s disease. This may be demonstrated in the individual being confused at which type of clothes to wear in the winter and which type of clothes is appropriate in the summer.
* Thinking: Inability to complete simple tasks and think clearly may be another sign of Alzheimer’s disease. This can be demonstrated by the individual’s confusion and difficulty in doing daily routine tasks.

These are just a few of the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. It is important to note that although many of these symptoms are synonymous with aging, when coupled together in one individual it may be an indicator that further testing is needed.