Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month: What You Need to Know About Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s
3 Minute ReadJune 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.
Find your peace-of-mind.
Explore LifeWorx’ in-home elder care services.
Related Articles
Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month: Facts versus Fiction
Alzheimer’s and Brain awareness month is celebrated in the month of June with the goal of creating awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia as well as showing support for the millions of people worldwide living with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. Alzheimer’s is…
Understanding Behavior: Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. As the disease advances, people with Alzheimer’s may show behavioral changes that can be difficult for families to manage. At LifeWorx, we understand the complexities of caring for someone with…
Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month: An Overview of The Types of Dementia
June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month and it’s important to understand that Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of progressive dementia in older adults. Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of neurological conditions affecting the brain that get worse over time.As…
Alzheimer’s Awareness Month: Interview with the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF)
Presented in Partnership with the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, a time to heighten awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and show support towards Americans who are living with it. Alzheimer’s disease is currently ranked as the seventh leading cause…