Things You'll Need:
- Patience
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Step 1
Understanding the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease is easier if you understand how the disease works. Alzheimer's Disease is a disease that attacks the brain, specifically the part of the brain associated with memory. As the nerve cells in the brain associated with memory die off, the person suffering with the disease will lose not only their ability to remember, but also their ability to learn new things.
Since memories that have been in the brain longer are more ingrained, the person will lose memory starting from the present and working back to the past. Many persons suffering from Alzheimer's Disease will remember, and be able to describe in vivid detail, memories from their childhood, while at the same time not knowing what day or even year they are living in. -
Step 2
It is a proven fact that recognizing the signs and symptoms of
Alzheimer's Disease, and getting the person treatment early on, may help slow the progression of the disease. Those suffering with Alzheimer's Disease will decline at different rates. In other words, one person suffering with the disease will lose memory slowly, while
another can lose all memory functions very quickly. With this in mind, the sooner the person gets help, the better. -
Step 3
Now that you understand how the disease works and how important it is to get help as soon as possible, we'll go on to the signs and symptoms of the disease.
The first visible sign of Alzheimer's Disease is memory loss. If the person asks you the same question repeatedly in a 5 minute period, for example, "What day is it?" And you answer, "It's Sunday", and a few minutes later they ask again, then a few minutes again, and so on, this is a red flag. In the early stages, the person will start to lose the ability to remember simple everyday things, such as the day or time. -
Step 4
Once Alzheimer's Disease reaches the "Mild" stage, the symptoms will be a little more damaging to the person's normal everyday life.
Symptoms include:
a. Difficulty learning and remembering new information
b. Forgetting to pay bills, take medication, or do everyday activities they were previously in the habit of doing
c. Getting lost going to familiar places, such as not remembering how to get to the grocery store they've been going to for many years or a friend's house they've known all their life
In the Mild stage, the person will still be able to do other basic activities, such as driving, eating and drinking, showing, etc. So, don't be fooled because they still function in many ways as "normal". These are definite signs that the disease is progressing and should be dealt with immediately. -
Step 5
At the "Moderate" stage of Alzheimer's Disease, the person will exhibit symptoms progressively worse than the "Mild" stage.
Symptoms include:
a. Telling stories repeatedly or making up stories to fill in gaps they don't remember
b. Difficulty with simple instructions or daily everyday activities, such as showering or going to the toilet
c. Difficulty following simple written instructions
d. Lack of concern for hygiene, personal appearance, and/or getting appropriate sleep -
Step 6
The last stage of Alzheimer's Disease is the "Severe" stage. At this stage the person will not be able to function in normal society and will need full-time care. In this stage the disease is widespread and can even affect the person's health. Many people that have Alzheimer's Disease also suffer with pneumonia.
Symptoms include:
a. Difficulty with all essential life functions
b. Not being able to recognize family or friends anymore
c. Behavioral problems such as screaming out, groaning, mumbling and/or refusing to eat -
Step 7
Alzheimer's Disease is a devastating, destructive disease that literally strips a person of who they are. It has no cure, but it can be slowed to a snail's pace if caught in the early stages. So, my hope is that this article will help others catch the symptoms of the disease early, so it can be slowed dramatically, giving the person suffering and their loved ones much more quality time together.
