10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's -- Sign No. 6

Everyone struggles to remember a name or recall a precise word, but those with Alzheimer's have more difficulty than remembering single words or names. One classic early symptom of Alzheimer's is repeating the same story or comment again and again without realizing the repetition. Although this may be common, repetition is not universal. The difficulty experienced by those with Alzheimer's is not a simple as a lapse of memory.

People suffering from dementia, like Alzheimer's may lose the ability to put words together in a logical sequence. They may stop talking in the middle of a sentence or start over again, generally without being aware that there is a problem. This problem may be worse if the person also suffers from hearing loss or other similar disability. In my experience, it appears that the person is not paying attention and just drifts off into a different world.

Those giving care to a person with Alzheimer's must be aware that the lack of attention is not intentional, it is part of the condition.

Another problem for people suffering from Alzheimer's is misusing a word or substituting an inappropriate word. The substituted words are not variations of the missing word, but totally unrelated such as using a description for the word. The problem may also extend to a condition like Aphasia, blocking and not being able to complete either a word or a sentence.

Verbal confusion can also be caused by many other medical problems, and all of the warning signs are intended to be considered together.

If a friend or a loved one begins showing signs of memory or word difficulties, it is good idea to make sure their affairs are in order and that they have provided for medical directives before their mental condition deteriorates to the point that they can no longer function.