Alzheimer's Disease

The Alzheimer's Association (2001) has developed a document entitled the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's Disease. Forgetting names or past events is not necessarily a sign of Alzheimer's disease. However, when the memory loss is significant, such as familiar names or frequently used telephone numbers, then it may be a sign of illness. A person with Alzheimer's disease may find even the easiest tasks, such as tying one's shoes or setting the table for dinner, too hard to complete. Similarly, difficulty may arise with job performance, even if the person has been working in the same job for many years.

Word-finding difficulties or becoming easily tongue-tied are characteristics of Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, new nonsense words may be used when the correct words cannot be remembered. Having Alzheimer's disease may mean becoming easily lost, even in one's own neighborhood, or not knowing the accurate day of the week. Someone with Alzheimer's disease may wear winter clothes in the summer or make poor decisions regarding money, such as entrusting a total stranger with large sums of cash.

It is very easy to lose eyeglasses or misplace keys. However, individuals with Alzheimer's disease will lose many items, often placing them in inappropriate places, such as clothes in the freezer or milk in the cedar chest. Mood swings are common in individuals with Alzheimer's disease and often occur for no apparent reason. Someone may become quickly enraged and then immediately calm down.

Perhaps one of the most disturbing symptoms of Alzheimer's disease is the change that may occur in personality. A normally happy person may become chronically depressed or a mild-mannered person may become rude and easily agitated. Another symptom of Alzheimer's disease is excessive sleeping or unusual passivity. The individual may become chronically fatigued and uncooperative.