Common Symptoms of Alzheimer's
Please note that just because you or a loved one may have one or more of these
symptoms does not necessarily mean that you or they have Alzheimer's. This is why it is crucial
that medical help must be sought immediately so a proper diagnois may be given.
1. Confusion and disorientation
Mom's first noticeable symptom was that morning when she woke me up and told me
that she did not know how to get back into her bed.
They may get lost, no longer recognize familiar places or faces, etc.
2. Misplacing items
Not only may a person start losing and forgetting where they put things they use on
a daily basis, but they may start finding that they have put them in some truly bizarre
places.
3. Can no longer follow directions
My mother could no longer follow any directions..and I mean any directions...no
matter how patient I was...or how simple I tried to make them.
It was almost impossible for her to follow any type of instructions as well, no matter how
simple they were.
4.Impaired judgment
A person with Alzheimer's can walk out of the house in a blizzard wearing a pair of
shorts and no shoes.
5. Loss of motivation
My mother lost interest in everything that she loved. She no longer wanted to do
jigsaw or crossword puzzles, no longer wanted to visit friends, and she did not want to talk on
the phone.
6. Behavior changes
My mother would sit in the house with the shades pulled and barely any lights on
just so people would not think she was home. She became very anti-social.
7. Language and communication problems
You may suddenly notice that your loved one is talking gibberish at times or they
may substitute another word for what they really mean.
They also may have difficulty understanding something very simple that you are trying to tell
them.
8. Personality changes
A quiet person can suddenly become very angry for no apparent reason. Some people
become very fearful and paranoid like my mother.
9. Inability to perform the functions of daily living
They no longer can remember how to put on their clothing. Mom lost the ability to
dress herself at the same time she could no longer remember how to use the bathroom by herself.
They may forget how to eat and will often just sit and stare at their food not knowing what
to do with it. Mom thought her food had to be eaten in a certain direction or pattern.
10. Noticeable change in sleep patterns
They may suddenly start wanting to stay up all night or they may want to sleep all
day. My mom would be up wandering around the house almost all of the nite.
She did not seem to know whether it was day or night any more.
I have only attempted to provide you with the most common symptoms and with the
ones that I saw most often in my mom. Remember that no two people are alike so please seek the
advice of a qualified physician if you suspect that any form of dementia may be present.
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