The Seven Warning Signs of Alzheimer's Disease
The purpose of this list is to alert the public to the early warning signs of one of the most devastating disorders affecting older people — Alzheimer's disease. If someone has several or even most of these symptoms, it does not mean they definitely have the disease. It does mean they should be thoroughly examined by a medical specialist trained in evaluating memory disorders, such as a neurologist or a psychiatrist, or by a comprehensive memory disorder clinic, with an entire team of expert knowledge about memory problems.
The seven warning signs of Alzheimer's disease are:
1. Patients with Alzheimer’s may repeatedly ask the same question. This questioning may occur rather rapidly in the course of a 5 minute interview.
2. Patients with AD are known for repeating a story, over and over and over; using the exact words each time the story is repeated.
3. Activities that were done with ease (and apparently with little thinking), such as simple cooking, playing cards, minor repairs, are now fraught with error.
4. Independent activities of daily living are forgotten, such as how to balance the check-book, or computer basic calculations for budgeting the household.
5. Becoming disoriented in familiar surroundings, such as your home.
6. Neglecting to keep up basic hygiene activities, such as bathing; while insisting that this has been done.
7. When asked a simple question, will defer to someone else, usually their significant other to respond.
Source
Based on criteria established by: The Suncoast Gerontology Center, University of South Florida. Revised 9/01/99.
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