Alzheimer’s & Dementia

Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month: What You Need to Know About Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s

By Jessica Deng

June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, approximately accounting for 60-80% percent of all dementia cases. It affects memory, thinking, and behavior. Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging – it is a progressive brain disease.Today we are sharing vital information regarding the early symptoms and signs of Alzheimer’s dementia, and what an early diagnosis means for you or your loved one. Below are 10 warning signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s. If you notice any of them in yourself or your loved one, schedule an appointment with your doctor.

• Memory loss that disputes daily life
• Challenges in planning or solving problems
• Difficulty completing familiar tasks
• Confusion with time or place
• Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
• New problems with words in speaking or writing
• Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
• Decreased poor judgment
• Withdrawal from work or social activities
• Challenges in mood and personality

Early diagnosis is key. Early diagnosis has demonstrated better health outcomes for individuals and their caregivers. It may be hard to know the difference between age-related changes and the first signs of dementia, but memory loss that disrupts daily life is not a typical part of aging. The current diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease relies on detecting the signs of mental decline. Your healthcare provider can then diagnose Alzheimer’s disease with a few tests.

First, your healthcare provider will ask about your health history and does cognitive tests on memory, problem-solving, and other mental skills. Depending on the results of the office-based cognitive testing, your provider may also request you have more detailed testing done with a neuropsychologist. Your provider may also request blood, urine, and spinal fluid. These give your provider a closer look at brain tissue and how much damage there is.

Unfortunately, there is no cure yet for early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, but healthcare providers have been successful in helping people maintain their mental function, control behavior, and slow the progress of the disease. LifeWorx specializes in Alzheimer’s and dementia elderly care and our home care professional can make sure you or your loved one has the best quality of care possible. Contact one of our home care professionals today and see how we can help improve your or your loved one’s quality of life.