| Alzheimer's is, sadly, a common form of dementia | | | | they may suffer from the disease alike may consult |
| afflicting the elderly. This disease is inevitably fatal, | | | | when trying to determine if an evaluation by a |
| and its progress horrifying. Alzheimer's is a | | | | physician is warranted. Like any disease, a doctor |
| degenerative disease which takes away the last | | | | would much rather have a disease turn out not to be |
| years that the afflicted has with their loved ones. | | | | present after a visit than to have no contact with a |
| The benefits of having family and friends present in | | | | patient who turns out to have the disease. |
| ones old age is cruelly stolen from these sufferers, | | | | This checklist contains ten signs of possible |
| along with the debilitating physical and mental effects | | | | Alzheimer's. One is memory loss beyond that normally |
| of the disease. | | | | seen in older people and if this sort of memory loss |
| There are three distinct stages to the progression of | | | | is seen, it is probably time to consult with your |
| Alzheimer's disease, each with its own symptoms. | | | | physician. |
| These stages are early, middle and late. The | | | | Early warning signs of Alzheimer's include having a |
| symptoms of each stage are a bane to both patient | | | | hard time with everyday tasks like cooking or dialing |
| and caregivers. It is in the early stage when the | | | | the phone. Finding oneself literally at a loss for words |
| disease is generally recognized by the sufferer and | | | | (as in, common words are simply forgotten) is |
| when it is diagnosed by the physician. | | | | another symptom. |
| Loss of memory is a common early symptom of | | | | Those afflicted with the disease will commonly |
| Alzheimer's, especially when it comes to smells. In | | | | become lost and disoriented in surroundings which |
| studies, researchers have found a scratch and sniff | | | | heretofore had been familiar to them. Lapses in |
| test to be an effective screening tool for Alzheimer's | | | | judgment as well as memory are also common, for |
| disease. However, not every doctor's office has | | | | instance wearing shorts and a t-shirt in mid winter. |
| these sorts of tests available. | | | | A hard time with mental tasks, losing things and |
| Detecting Alzheimer's disease early, as with any | | | | mood swings also are common for those undergoing |
| disease, is crucial to slowing it's progress. This leads | | | | the onset of Alzheimer's. Loss of motivation is also |
| to a longer life expectancy for the patient, with | | | | seen quite often, as are personality changes including |
| increased quality of life. The smell test is a great tool | | | | increased anxiety and suspicion. The person might |
| for early diagnosis, a test which one can only hope | | | | spend hours in front of the television. |
| will become more widespread. | | | | If you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself |
| It is not uncommon to have the odd memory lapse | | | | or in a loved one, the best thing to do is make an |
| as one ages, but these memory lapses are not like | | | | appointment with a doctor and find out if it is |
| those experienced by those suffering from | | | | Alzheimer's or not. There is hope if it is diagnosed |
| Alzheimer's. The Alzheimer's Association has created | | | | early. |
| a checklist, which families and those who suspect | | | | |