Alzheimer’s disease is the only cause of death among the top 10 (it’s currently ranked No. 6) in the United States that can’t be prevented, cured or slowed down.
In my previous article What Everybody Ought to Know About Alzheimer’s Disease you can learn about the risk factors, signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s, diagnosis and treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.
What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia among older people. Dementia is a brain disorder that seriously affects a person’s ability to carry out daily activities. Warning signs of dementia are observed within people with these traits.Alzheimer’s disease begins slowly.
It first involves the parts of the brain that control thought, memory and language. People with Alzheimer may have trouble remembering things that happened recently or names of people they know.
A related problem, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), causes more memory problems than normal for people of the same age.
Many, but not all, people with MCI will develop Alzheimer. These are the warning signs of Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s disease usually begins after the age of 60 and the risk goes up as you get older. Your risk is also higher if a family member has had the disease.
Latest Updates On Alzheimer’s
Early signs of Alzheimer’s and diagnosis are the key to helping patients live better day to day, so even though the disease is still progressing, the early warning signs of Alzheimer’s are less harsh.
“Recent developments in technology have greatly improved our ability to properly diagnose patients with cognitive impairment,” said Analysis Group’s Noam Kirson.
“Our results suggest that there are economic benefits to properly diagnosing — as early as possible — the cause of the cognitive impairment.”
New studies suggest that noticing you are having memory or thinking problems could be the earliest sign of Alzheimer’s disease.
The Alzheimer’s Association lists these 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s, plus advice on how to tell them from normal age-related changes and about Alzheimer treatment:
Symptoms Of Alzheimer’s
- Memory changes that disrupt daily life
- Challenges in planning or solving problems
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work, or at leisure
- Confusion with time or place
- Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
- New problems with words in speaking or writing
- Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
- Decreased or poor judgment
- Withdrawal from work or social activities
- Changes in mood and personality
If any of the 10 signs of Alzheimer’s are observed in you or your family, head to your doctor’s office rather than diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease at home as these are the first signs of Alzheimer’s.