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Alzheimer’s disease is known to disrupt life but can gradually develop over time. Each person is different with the signs and symptoms that they experience as they age. If you’re concerned about your health, there are a few signs of Alzheimer’s that you shouldn’t ignore.
1. Difficulty Speaking or Writing
You may begin to have problems speaking or writing, which can make it difficult to maintain your responsibilities in the workplace. It can also become more challenging to join in on the conversation with your family members or friends due to a lack of finding the right words to say while communicating.
2. Changes in Mood
Although you may be a happy and joyful person, it’s common for many people to become anxious, fearful, or depressed once they develop Alzheimer’s. You may also find yourself becoming more confused and have difficulty thinking clearly. Mood changes are more common when you’re out of your comfort zone, which is often in public settings that are new or unfamiliar.
3. Losing Items
From your keys to a book you’re reading, it’s common to begin misplacing and losing items that are frequently used. Many people have difficulty remembering their last steps, which can cause the individual to accuse other people of stealing the personal belongings.
4. Poor Judgment
Responsible adults who begin to suffer from Alzheimer’s can start to have poor judgment with their decisions that they make each day. Family members may notice that the individual gives large amounts of money away to a salesman or overspends at the grocery store. It’s also common for the adult to have a lack of grooming, which can include forgetting to bathe or not brushing their hair.
5. A Lack of Social Activities
Adults who once had an active social life and enjoyed a long list of hobbies can become more reserved and spend most of their time in isolation. Alzheimer’s is known for causing adults to have difficulty maintaining hobbies or sports that they once enjoyed. Due to their lack of mental clarity, it can also make it challenging for them to maintain their relationships and spend time with loved ones.
The isolation or a lack of activity can make it easy to become more depressed and have less enthusiasm for life.
6. Daily Tasks Become a Challenge
Familiar tasks that are performed routinely can become more challenging, which can include cooking in the kitchen or exercising. Some people may begin to forget how to drive to work while others forget the rules to a game that they often play. You may begin to feel like simple tasks are no longer easy and that you need help completing specific projects.
Some individuals begin to feel like they’re losing their independence due to their new reliance on other people.
7. Financial Issues
Due to the challenges that come with thinking clearly and having a good memory, those who have Alzheimer’s can begin to have financial difficulties due to their lack of cognitive function. You may start to have missed payments on your bills, which can result in late fees. Maintaining a budget can also be difficult, which often leads to over-drafting your bank account and acquiring debt. It’s essential that a family member steps in to assist with the finances and get them back in order.
8. Confusion with the Time or Place
Disorientation is considered to be an early sign of the disease that can make it easy to forget where you are and what time of day it is while you’re at home or are in public. Some people begin to get lost while others lose track of the season or the time of year. The person’s perception of time can change, which can cause five minutes to feel like five hours. You may notice that the individual tells you that they haven’t seen you in several months even if you see each other on a weekly basis.
9. Forgetting Familiar Faces
Those who have Alzheimer’s are known for having difficulty recognizing loved ones, which can include family members and close friends. As the disease progresses, they can forget who their spouse or children are, making it necessary to discuss old memories and stories to help refresh their memory. Many individuals are prescribed medication or supplements to increase their cognitive function over time.
10. Changes in Vision
Although many of the symptoms that are associated with Alzheimer’s are cognitive, some people also begin to have issues with their vision. It can become increasingly difficult to read the words in a book or on a computer screen. Colors can also begin to look more similar to one another and can be difficult to differentiate. You may begin to have difficulty driving due to the poor vision, which can lead to accidents that begin to occur more frequently.
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