Aging or Alzheimer's?
Illustrating the difference between normal aging and the signs of cognitive decline, or Alzheimer’s/Dementia onset. Included are a short list of preventative care for cognitive decline, and what signs a person and their family should be on the lookout for.
Most people over the age of 55 will tell you that their memory is not as good as it used to be. Everyone has had the experience of going up the stairs to their bedroom and thinking, "What did I come up here for?" As you age, you may begin to worry more about that. But this does not represent a problem.
It's when a person has memory problems that are very severe [that] you need to worry, when they can't make use of information and turn that information into a useful course of actions. Also, when they start to show problems with their judgment and when they repeatedly make mistakes.
It's OK to get lost, because young people get lost. It's not OK when you get lost and you can't assemble a plan to get back to where you should be. If you make a date on the phone to pick them up for lunch the next day, someone with normal memory problems is aware of their memory problem and will find a way to keep their schedule by taking notes. Someone with Alzheimer's disease will open the door and be angry and say, "What do you mean we spoke on the phone? You're crazy."
They also display difficulty in utilizing a familiar object which they would have previously recognized and difficulty in using things. A person who can no longer figure out how to operate the microwave or set their alarm clock even though it's the same device they used to be able to manipulate appropriately is a sign of a real problem.
Alzcare in Texas. Caring help for Alzheimer’s patients in home settings.
