10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's -- Sign No. 1

The Alzheimer's Association has ten warning signs of cognitive impairment which they say "may be a symptom of Alzheimer's, a fatal brain disease." I am not convinced that "Alzheimer's" is a real disease, but that will be the subject of other posts. Before getting upset with this or any other information you may have heard about the so-called "Alzheimer's Disease" I suggest you read the The Myth of Alzheimer's: what you aren't being told about today's most dreaded disease.

Notwithstanding the status of Alzheimer's as a disease or not, memory impairment is a serious problem with the growing population of elderly people in America. As an attorney I have had a fairly large share of elderly clients and all of the ten warning signs are conditions that I have personally experienced either with clients or with others in my circle of acquaintances and friends.

Warning Sign Number 1:

1. Changes in memory ability that becomes disruptive of normal daily life.

Although this is symptom is assumed to be the classic precursor of Alzheimer's or dementia in general, in practical real life situations, the changes in memory can be so subtle that the person can compensate without drawing attention to the fact that their memory is impaired. On the other hand, a sudden decrease in memory ability may be attributed to something entirely separate and distinct from Alzheimer's or dementia. Any sudden change in memory should be addressed immediately by a physician. For example, vascular dementia is caused by a decrease in the blood supply to the brain and not by any of the aging processes attributed to Alzheimer's. Generally, although each individual is different, someone with a memory impairment will not suddenly remember the lost memory at a later time.

It is a good idea if there is a noticeable memory impairment, not just forgetting someones name or a meeting, but consistent inability to remember information, it would be a good time to review the individuals physical condition and check for other symptoms of impairment.

Next time: Warning Sign No. 2