Alzheimer's is developing slowly, says Deborah Halpern of the National Family Caregiver Alliance in Kensington, Maryland. Like the fog in Carl Sandberg's poem, he "arrives on the little cat's feet".
We had trouble distinguishing Alzheimer's disease from normal age-related changes. But if you know what to look for, dementia is different from normal aging. It can happen to anyone to lose their keys. But people with dementia can find them and have no idea what they are used for.
Warning signs of Alzheimer's:
1. Loss of memory:
It is normal to forget the names from time to time. But people with Alzheimer's forget about it more and more over time.
2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks:
It is normal to occasionally forget why you entered a room. But people with Alzheimer's forget how to wear buttons shirts.
3. Problems with the language:
Everyone sometimes has trouble finding the right word. But people with Alzheimer's lose a lot of words and sometimes have trouble making themselves understood.
4. Disorientation:
Anyone can feel disoriented in an unfamiliar environment. People with Alzheimer's get lost on a familiar turf.
5. Mood changes:
Everyone can feel sad. People with Alzheimer's can experience significant mood changes, from calm to anger, for no apparent reason.
6. Personality changes:
Normal people change over time, but are always recognizable. People with Alzheimer's really become different people.