Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Stages of Alzheimer's Disease

8.  Decreased or poor judgement :  People with Alzheimer's disease may experience changes in judgement or decision making.  For example, they may use poor judgement when dealing with money, giving the incorrect amount to pay a bill.  They pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean.

               What is a normal age related change?

Bad decision making once in awhile.

9.  Withdrawl from work or social activittes:  a person with Alzheimer's disease may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports.  They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite sport team or remembering how to complete a favorite hobbie.  They may also avoid being  social , they may go inside and remain there for long periods of time.

               What is a normal age related change?

10.  Changes in mood and personality :  The mood and personality of people with Alzheimer's disease can change.  They become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily up set.

                 What is a normal age related change?

Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritated when routine is disrupted.

Alzheimer's Disease stages

6.  New problems using words when speaking or writing:  people with alzheimer's disease may have trouble joining or following 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 problems finding thr right words or call things the wrong name, such as calling a refigerator a "ice box."

            What is a normal age related change?

Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.

7.  Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps:  A person with Alzheimer's may put things in unsual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. Sometimes, they accuse others of stealing. 

              What is a normal age related change?

Misplacing things from time to time, such as a pair of glasses or their favorite pair of house shoes.
              

Alzheimer's Disease

1.   Memory loss that disrupts life:

One of the most common signs of Alzheimer's is memory loss, especially forgetting recently learned information.  Others include forgetting important dates or events; asking for the information over and over.  Or asking family members for things they used to handle on their own.
       What is a normal age related change?

Sometimes forgetting names or appointments but remembering later.

2.  Challenges in planning or salving problems:

Some people may experience changes in their ability to develope and follow a plan or work with puzzles.  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 they did before.
        What is a normal age related change?

Making occasional errors when balancing a check book.

3.  Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, work or leisure.  People with Alzheimer's Disease often find it hard to complete daily tasks.  Sometimes Alzheimer's patients may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget or remembering the rules of a favorite game.

         What is a normal age related change?

Occasionally needing help to use the settings on a microwave or to record a television program.

4.  Confusion with time or place:  People with Alzheimer's can lose track of dates, seasons and the passages 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 is a normal age related change?

Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later.

5.  Trouble understanding visual images:  for some people having visual problems is a sign of Alzheimer's Disease.  They have difficulity reading, judging distance and determinig color, contrast or perception.

            What is a normal age related change?

Visual changes related to cataracts.



 
   

The three stages of Alzheimer's Disease

                                                 Mild, the beginning stage
     Mild Alzheimer's Disease is the beginning stage.  People with mild alzheimer's disease often seem healthy, but they are actually having trouble making sense of the world around them.  It takes time for an observer (someone that is around or knows the Alzheimer's victum better than anyone else) to realize that something is wrong because the initial symptoms are often confused with the changes that take place in normal aging.  Symptoms and early signs of Alzheimer's Disease may include:
          *  Difficulty learning and remembering new information.
          
           *  Difficulty managing finances, planning meals, and taking medications on schedule.

           *  Depression symptoms/ sadness, decreased interest in usual activities, and loss of
               energy.

           *  Difficulty with some activities such as, driving a automobile.

            *  Gets lost in familiar places.

     Memory loss that disrupts daily life is not typical part of aging.  It maybe a symptom of alzheimer's, a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills.  Every individual may experience  one or more of these signs in different degrees.  If you notice any of them please see a doctor.