2025 Alzheimer's Awareness | Page 8

ALZHEIMER’ S AWARENESS | DETECTION 10 Early Signs and Symptoms
Page 8 Alzheimer’ s Awareness • Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025 hometownsource. com

ALZHEIMER’ S AWARENESS | DETECTION 10 Early Signs and Symptoms

Memory loss that disrupts daily life may be a symptom of Alzheimer’ s or other dementia. Alzheimer’ s is a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. There are 10 warning signs and symptoms. If you notice any of them, don’ t ignore them. Schedule an appointment with your doctor.
DISRUPTIVE MEMORY LOSS
One of the most common signs of Alzheimer’ s disease, especially in the early stage, is forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events, asking the same questions over and over, and increasingly needing to rely on memory aids( e. g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own. What’ s a typical age-related change? Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.
CHALLENGES IN PLANNING OR SOLVING PROBLEMS Some people living with changes in their
memory due to Alzheimer’ s or other dementia
may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before. What’ s a typical age-related change? Making occasional errors when managing finances or household bills.
DIFFICULTY COMPLETING FAMILIAR TASKS
People living with memory changes from Alzheimer’ s or other dementia often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes they may have trouble driving to a familiar location, organizing a grocery list or remembering the rules of a favorite game.
What’ s a typical age-related change?
Occasionally needing help to use microwave settings or to record a TV show.
CONFUSION WITH TIME OR PLACE People living with Alzheimer’ s or other dementia can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there. What’ s a typical age-related change? Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later.
TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING VISUAL IMAGES AND SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS Some people living with Alzheimer’ s or
other dementia could experience vision changes. This may lead to difficulty with balance or trouble reading. They may also have problems judging distance and determining color or contrast, causing issues with driving. What’ s a typical age-related change? Vision changes related to cataracts.
NEW PROBLEMS WITH WORDS IN SPEAKING OR WRITING People living with Alzheimer’ s or other dementia may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have trouble naming a familiar object or use the wrong name( e. g., calling a“ watch” a“ hand-clock”).
What’ s a typical age-related change?
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Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.
MISPLACING THINGS AND LOSING THE ABILITY TO RETRACE STEPS
A person living with Alzheimer’ s or other dementia may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. He or she may accuse others of stealing, especially as the disease progresses. What’ s a typical age-related change? Misplacing things from time to time and retracing steps to find them.
See DETECTION on page 9