AFS Chicago - Spring/Summer 2024

Warning signs as listed by the Alzheimer’s Association. These behavioral changes may also be symptoms of other dementia that are reversible with a doctor’s care. If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms, see your physician for diagnosis and help. 10 Warning signs of Alzheimer’s Disease Memory loss that disrupts daily life Forgetting recently learned information, important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over; relying on memory aides or family for things they used to handle. What's a typical age-related change? Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later. Challenges in planning or solving problems Changes in the ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. Trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. What's a typical age-related change? Occasional errors when balancing a checkbook. Difficulty completing familiar tasks Hard to complete daily tasks. Trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game. What's a typical age-related change? Occasionally needing help to use the settings on a microwave or to record a television show. Confusion with time or place Losing track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. Trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Forgeting where they are or how they got there. What's a typical age-related change? Confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships Some have vision problems. Difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast. They may pass a mirror and think someone else is in the room. What's a typical age-related change? Vision changes related to cataracts. Problems with words in speaking or writing Trouble following or joining a conversation. Stopping in the middle with no idea how to continue or repeating self. May struggle with vocabulary or call things by the wrong name. What's a typical age-related change? Sometimes having trouble finding the right word. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps Placing things in unusual places. Losing things and unable to go back over their steps to find them again. May accuse others of stealing. What's a typical age-related change? Misplacing things from time to time, such as a pair of glasses or the remote control. Decreased or poor judgment Changes in judgment or decision-making. May use poor judgment when dealing with money. May pay less attention to grooming. What's a typical age-related change? Making a bad decision once in a while. Withdrawal from work or social activities Removing self from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. Trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team or completing a favorite hobby. What's a typical age-related change? Sometimes feeling weary of work, family and social obligations. Changes in mood and personality May become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. Easily upset in places where they are out of their comfort zone. What's a typical age-related change? Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted. 2 1 3 4 5 9 10 8 6 7