September is the World Alzheimer’s Month- Let’s Learn the Least Common Warning Signs

September is the World Alzheimer’s Month

Alzheimer’s is a disease that causes a dawdling decline in a memory coupled with a waning of thinking and reasoning skills.

You may have noticed that most of the elderly are not good at remembering things and can hardly recognize some important events or dates. While it may be common for some, it can be a sign of an underlying mental illness.

We are talking about Alzheimer’s, which is a severe memory issue that can lead to memory loss and may affect their normal living.

While caring for those with Alzheimer’s can be a challenging task, it is crucial for the caregivers to first understand the disease and the issues that can arise if their dear ones are facing such mental issues.

It’s crucial for individuals caring for their elderly parents to identify the early signs so that the ailment could be controlled at an early stage.

Here are some least common signs that can indicate Alzheimer’s in the elderly and shouldn’t be ignored by caregivers.

Loss of Memory (The Common Sign)

It’s the most common symptom that sometimes people ignore and consider it a normal aspect of aging. If you are witnessing any of the following things in your elderly, it’s time to consider consulting your physician:

  • Do they forget things they just learned?
  • Do they forget important dates, events, and even names?
  • Do they forget things that just happened?
  • Do you need to ask the same information again and again?
  • Do you need to remind them of things often?

If you are witnessing any of these things with your dear ones daily, it’s time to consult your physician and seek medical help.

Since we can’t cure Alzheimer’s, certain timely medication can help to control the issue and slow down the process.

Less Interest in Social Activities & Work

Many individuals aren’t aware of the fact that the unwillingness of their dear ones in social activities and work can be a warning sign of an underlying mental issue like Alzheimer’s.

This is categorized under mild Alzheimer’s and this stage may last from 2 to 4 years and seniors often witness a lack of energy and enthusiasm for things, which wasn’t the case a couple of years back.

When individuals spend a lot of time watching TV, sleeping, or sitting idle, it can depict the early stage of the disease.

The caregiver must get medical help in such a situation to minimize the impact of the disease and its symptoms.

Having a Hard Time with Everyday Tasks

You may notice that your dear ones aren’t able to manage daily chores. They face trouble even in balancing a notebook or writing. This can be an early sign of Alzheimer’s and proper medical examination is suggested at the earliest.

Most people complain about mood swings in their parents or clients if they are serving as a caregiver. This is again a sign that shouldn’t be ignored.

Though it is not always the case when you witness any of these symptoms, medical examination is crucial. If it’s the beginning of Alzheimer’s, you must get the proper medication to control the issue.

Signs of Moderate Alzheimer’s

We have discussed the signs associated with an early stage of Alzheimer’s now we will be discussing the symptoms that you may witness in your loved ones during the moderate stage. Here’s the list of symptoms that you shouldn’t ignore:

  • Confused speech
  • Unable to use the right words while conveying a message
  • Unable to solve a problem
  • Not sure about the current place and time
  • Easily getting annoyed, angry, or upset
  • Wandering
  • Trouble sleeping
  • The misbelief that you may hurt them

All these signs indicate that there’s something wrong with their mental health and you immediately need to look into the matter.

There’s nothing to prove that these signs truly indicate Alzheimer’s and you are now helpless about the situation, but you should seek medical help to figure out the actual cause of the behaviour as some medications or drugs may be causing the issues.

A clinical diagnosis would help in understanding the actual cause and you may be advised to monitor their behaviour and provide prescribed medication.

The Crux of the Matter

Mild forgetfulness could be normal in the elderly but if the situation worsens, it can be a sign of Alzheimer’s. Though we cannot reverse or treat Alzheimer’s but timely diagnosis and medication can be of great help to control the symptoms.

One should analyze the above-mentioned symptoms in their dear ones and consider consulting their medical practitioner for further treatment.

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Related blog posts:

Agencies and Caregivers Serving Elderly with Alzheimer’s During the COVID-19 Outbreak
Planning an Outing with Elderly Who Have Alzheimer’s – A Guide for Family Caregivers

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