subject: Seniors and Alzheimer's Disease: Early Detection [print this page] Seniors and Alzheimer's Disease: Early Detection
Medical professionals tell us the signs of early onset of Alzheimer's disease. When a family member, Dad, was diagnosed with the disease, I knew in the back of my heart and mind... the doctor was right on. As a family caregiver, the heartbreak was that maybe we could have done something about it much sooner had we paid attention to Dad's behavior. In Dad's case, there were many years he displayed slight memory loss and confusion, which eventually led to the irreversible mental impairment that destroyed his ability to remember, reason, learn and imagine. If you are concerned about a loved one in your family who's memory is slipping away, here are a few potential early signs and behaviors to be aware of:
1. Repeat things
Does your loved have a tendency to ask the same question over and over? Maybe s/he is active and spends a lot of time outside doing yard work or doing handy man kinds of activities (that was Dad), of course if s/he is not very social it can be difficult to spot the decline of a memory and mental awareness. That is why it is important for early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease so that early intervention with medications which slow the progression of the disease can be prescribed.
Question I ask myself now... "why didn't I pay closer attention to Dad's marked increase in repetitive questioning and activities?"
2. Routinely misplace things, may put them in places that make no sense, illogical locations
Yes, it's true that everyone has occasional lapses in memory. It's normal to forget where you put your car keys or to draw a blank on names of people, even on those we may see often. But problems associated with Alzheimer's disease can persist and in most cases get worse.
Dad, in the years after Mom's passing was notorious for misplacing things. I lived at a distance but when I was home on weekends to help him out, we'd have "Easter egg" hunts... looking for his wallet, favorite shaver, car keys and more!
Question I ask myself now... "why didn't I pay closer attention to his dilemma of misplacing these important items?"
In many cases, especially for elderly adults, early detection is not so easy. My family and I should know. We walked this road with my Dad. All our lives, our Dad was a very quiet man, so when he began displaying early signs of Alzheimer's disease, we were not aware of them. If you are concerned about whether your loved is developing dementia or showing early signs of Alzheimer's disease, please pay attention. For us, it's too late but for you, please be aware of the early signs of the disease... it can be your loved one's only hope. Alzheimer's disease is best treated when spotted early on.
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