Monday, October 25, 2010

Ten Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease Revised by the Alzheimer’s Association

By Carole B. Larkin
Alzheimer's Reading Room

The Alzheimer’s Association of America has revised its 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

In order to promote early detection and early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease the Alzheimer’s Association of America has updated its list of the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease. The Association is doing this because early diagnosis and early intervention (read administration of Alzheimer’s drugs) provide the best opportunities for treatment, support and planning for the future.


The revised warning signs are as follows:
  1. Memory changes that disrupt daily life
  2. Challenges in planning or solving problems
  3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks
  4. Confusion with time or place
  5. Trouble understanding Visual images and spatial relationships
  6. New problems with words while speaking or writing
  7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
  8. Decreased or poor judgment
  9. Withdrawal from work or social activities
  10. Changes in mood or personality.

I think that the revision is improvement because it is a little more specific regarding other issues beside memory loss.

Carole Larkin MAG, CMC, DCP, EICS is a geriatric care manager who specializes in helping families with Alzheimer’s and related dementias issues. She also trains caregivers in home care companies, assisted livings, memory care communities, and nursing homes in dementia specific techniques for best care of dementia sufferers. ThirdAge Services LLC, is located in Dallas, TX.

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Original content Carole Larkin, the Alzheimer's Reading Room