If you’ve ever misplaced your keys or forgotten where you parked at the grocery store, you can understand the fear that comes with temporary memory loss. Yet millions of Americans experience far more serious memory challenges in the form of Alzheimer’s disease, which is responsible for up to 80% of dementia cases, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
To understand some of the factors that distinguish forgetfulness from something more serious, we’ve created a basic list of indicators identified by the Alzheimer’s Association and at HelpGuide.org. If your loved one is experiencing some of these symptoms, seek expert medical attention. Together, we can help those we care about lead lives of integrity and high quality.
Facts and figures. If you leave a grocery list at home on accident, it’s easy to forget one or two items and then remember them later. With Alzheimer’s, though, people frequently forget key dates of life events such as birthdays and anniversaries. They also are more likely to ask for the same piece of information multiple times.
Vision challenges. Loss of eyesight is common with aging, but for those with Alzheimer’s, challenges can extend to problems with depth and color perception.
Repetition in conversation. Just about everyone gets tongue-tied as part of conversations from day to day. People with Alzheimer’s, though, are more likely to misuse words or repeat the same story during the course of the same conversation.
Environmental awareness. For those with Alzheimer’s, familiar places can suddenly become unfamiliar, leading to disorientation and making it difficult to follow directions. Those with normal age-related memory loss are better able to retrace their steps upon getting lost.
If you see these signs or others in your loved one, be sure to get expert care while providing all the love and support you can. Identifying Alzheimer’s early can help relieve symptoms and ensure independent living for a longer period of time.