Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. Common warning signs include:
- Memory changes that disrupt daily life (e.g., short-term memory loss).
- Challenges in planning or solving problems (e.g., poor concentration, difficulty paying bills).
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks (e.g., getting lost driving near home, inability to use household appliances correctly).
- Confusion with place or time (e.g., forgetting of important dates).
- Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships (e.g., may not recognize one's self in the mirror).
- New problems with words in speaking or writing (e.g., difficulty keeping up with conversation, trouble with word finding).
- Decreased or poor judgment (e.g., a noticeable decrease in grooming, poor spending habits).
- Withdrawal from work/social activities (e.g., stop usual hobbies, social avoidance).
- Changes in mood and personality (e.g., easily confused, new sense of paranoia).
While there is no cure, lifestyle changes (e.g., memory aids) and medication (e.g., anticholinesterases and NMDA-receptor antagonists) can help combat Alzheimer's symptoms.
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