A number of months ago, I got off the phone after a conversation with my 85-year-old father, wondering, “Should I be worried about Alzheimer's?” This is because I saw my father struggling to precise himself, fumbling over the correct words, and forgetting names. We live 1,500 miles from one another, so I don't get to see how he's doing day by day.
Everyone has moments of forgetfulness — misplaced keys, a forgotten task, the name of a movie you wish to recommend but can't get off your tongue. A certain quantity of forgetfulness appears to be a traditional side effect of aging. Researchers hypothesize that this will likely be related to changes within the brain that begin around age 50, corresponding to a decrease in certain brain chemicals called neurotransmitters or a gradual lack of receptors on brain cells. be damaged
Is my loved one affected by memory loss?? When Alzheimer's or other dementias occur, the sufferer is usually less concerned about memory loss than their members of the family. The reverse is true for normal age-related memory problems.
Is he getting lost in familiar territory? If the one you love doesn't wander away in familiar surroundings, but sometimes stops momentarily to recollect the way in which, normal aging is probably going. But getting lost in your personal neighborhood while walking or driving, and taking hours to return back, should raise concerns about Alzheimer's or other dementias.
Are word search problems common? Occasional trouble finding the correct word might be not value worrying about, but frequent word-finding breaks and alternatives — for instance, calling the phone “the ringer” or “whatever I call you.” Calling “used for” is particular to Alzheimer's or one other disease. Dementia
Is the one you love losing the flexibility to socialize, or losing interest in it? While it's commonplace for an older adult to be reluctant to operate recent appliances or fiddle a bit with a cellular phone or computer, it's a warning sign if the person is using common appliances like a dishwasher. Has difficulty driving properly or is unable to learn. Even for running easy recent devices. Also, it's value noting if he has lost interest in social activities or if his social skills appear to be declining.
The task of determining “Is it Alzheimer's?” Easy for me, because my father and 92-year-old stepmother have one other family, and I visit them often. If that wasn't an option, I might confer with my dad's doctor. It could be value considering if you have got unresolved questions or concerns a couple of loved one's memory.