10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's -- Sign No. 3

Before becoming concerned about mental or cognitive deterioration, it is important to know that although the condition we call Alzheimer's is commonly referred to as a "disease" there is no conclusive proof that it is a disease or that there will ever be a "cure." The changes in brain structures attributed to Alzheimer's are found in "normally" aging brains. What we call Alzheimer's is part of a general condition known as dementia. To quote the Alzheimer's Association:

Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 50 to 70 percent of dementia cases. Other types of dementia include vascular dementia, mixed dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies and frontotemporal dementia. For more information about other causes of dementia..."

Warning Sign No. 3

Challenges in completing every day activities at home, work or leisure.

It is normal for a person to have difficulty with a new piece of electronic equipment, such as a DVD player or a cell phone. It is also normal to forget to pay a bill now and then or to take out the garbage. But when this difficulty begins to extend to activities a person would normally complete without a problem, there is reason for concern.

In my experience, the most alarming problems occur with maintaining the home heating/cooling systems and with cooking. People who were becoming more and more impaired have turned off the air conditioning in Phoenix, having the inside temperature go to almost 100 degrees. Others have left food cooking on the stove until the pan melted from the heat. In other cases, stoves and microwaves have been burned, fortunately without destroying the rest of the house. Before the impairment becomes a threat to health and safety, it is important to notice significant, but not so severe changes.

If a person begins to forget which channel has their favorite TV show, or even how to work the remote, or if a person can no longer wash their clothes or run the dishwasher, there is a need for medical evaluation. One symptom of decreased ability can be observed when the person is taken to a new location, a restaurant or store, for example. If the person cannot figure out which way to go or what to do, there may be a problem.

The initial stages of dementia or Alzheimer's in particular are especially difficult to detect. Many people will attempt to hide their inability to perform tasks by hiding the evidence. In one case, we found that a lady had put all of the left over food from restaurants, in the refrigerator and forgotten they were there. The fridge was full of have eaten and spoiled food. This issue can be very serious if the person lives alone and does not have regular outside contact with people coming into their home.

At this stage of Alzheimer's the person may still talk and react in a normal fashion. It is important that they receive competent medical help and also financial and legal counseling. Decisions need to be made before the person is completely impaired.