Millions of seniors develop Alzheimer’s every year. It’s a disease that can come on when you least expect it and can be difficult to accept. In many cases, you may want to deny that it’s happening an ignore the signs. However, the earlier that you make a diagnosis, the earlier that your loved one can start receiving care. The more time that you have to prepare for their care, the better. Take a look at some of the most telltale signs that your loved one may have Alzheimer’s.
Repeating Questions
It’s common for Alzheimer’s patients to start repeating questions that you’ve already answered. Memory loss is one of the most obvious symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Therefore, if your loved one starts forgetting things that you’ve already told them, it’s certainly a red flag.
While being forgetful is something that can happen to anyone, Alzheimer’s is a more extreme case of memory loss. For example, people with Alzheimer’s may start forgetting what your name is or what year it is. If it gets to this point, it’s time to see a doctor right away.
Confusion
A common symptom of Alzheimer’s is feeling confused about what’s going on around them. Once in awhile, things can get overwhelming in life for normal people; however, for people with Alzheimer’s, it can get totally disorienting. Not knowing where they are or having no concept of what they were just doing is a clear indication that Alzheimer’s may be coming into play.
Body Changes
When Alzheimer’s starts taking over, it may start creating physical challenges. Patients may have a difficult time speaking or even seeing. Therefore if you start noticing that your loved one has worsened coordination or seemed more disheveled than usual, start to take a closer look at what might be going on.
Difficulty Communicating
Is your loved one started having issues being able to convey a thought or an idea? Perhaps they have a hard time getting the words out without becoming frustrated. Communication issues are some of the biggest side effects of Alzheimer’s. Issues being able to communicate and forgetting language are things you should look out for. Try to notice if there’s a dramatic shift in the way that they talk to you. If you start having serious concerns, then you should talk to a doctor.
Mood Swings
Alzheimer’s can often bring on extreme mood swings. If you loved one and started getting extremely frustrated over seemingly trivial things, then it may be cause for concern. Pay attention to any abnormal increases and anger or even fear. Make sure that you differentiate moodiness with mood swings. And our older age it’s not unheard of to be simply grumpy sometimes.