Alzheimer`s Disease Essay, Research Paper

It’s normal to occasionally forget assignments, colleagues’ names or a business

associate’s telephone number, but generally remember them later. Those with a

dementia like Alzheimer’s disease, may forget things more often, and not

remember them later. They may repeatedly ask the same question, not remembering

either the answer, or that they already asked the question. Difficulty

Performing Familiar Tasks Busy people can be distracted from time to time and

leave the carrots on the stove, only remembering to serve them at the end of the

meal. People with Alzheimer’s disease could prepare a meal, forget to serve it,

and even forget they made it. Problems with Language Everyone has trouble

finding the right word sometimes, but can finish the sentence with another

appropriate word. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may forget simple words, or

substitute inappropriate words, making their sentence incomprehensible.

Disorientation of Time and Place It’s normal to forget the day of the week or

your destination for a moment. But people with Alzheimer’s disease can become

lost on their own street or in a familiar shopping mall, not knowing where they

are, how they got there or how to get home. Poor or Decreased Judgment People

can become so immersed in an activity or telephone conversation they temporarily

forget the child they’re watching. A person with Alzheimer’s disease could

entirely forget the child under their care and leave the house to visit a

neighbor. Problems with Abstract Thinking People who normally balance their

checkbooks may be momentarily disconcerted when the task is more complicated

than usual, but will eventually figure out the solution. Someone with

Alzheimer’s disease could forget completely what the numbers are and what needs

to be done with them. Misplacing Things Anyone can misplace their wallet or

keys, but eventually find them by reconstructing where they could have left

them. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things down in inappropriate

places — an iron in the freezer, or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl — and not

be able to retrieve them. Changes in Mood or Behavior Everyone has a bad day

once in a while, or may become sad or moody from time to time. Someone with

Alzheimer’s disease can exhibit rapid mood swings for no apparent reason: e.g.

from calm to tears to anger to calm in a few minutes. Changes in Personality

People’s personalities ordinarily change somewhat at different ages, as

character traits strengthen or mellow. But a person with Alzheimer’s disease can

change drastically, becoming extremely irritable, suspicious or fearful. Loss of

Initiative It’s normal to tire of housework, business activities or social

obligations, but most people regain their initiative. The person with

Alzheimer’s disease may become very passive and require cues and prompting to

get them involved in activities. These ten warning signs also may apply to

dementias other than Alzheimer’s disease. People concerned about these warning

signs should see a physician for a complete examination. The "Is It

Alzheimer’s? Ten Warning Signs" campaign has been funded through an

educational grant from Parke-Davis.