Raising the Red Flag - Top Indicators of the Disease Called Alzheimer's

As we get older, we all slow down as some point. May be we don't move as fast and have to cut out the marathons or rollerblading. Or we have to give up our beloved spicy foods because our stomachs aren't what they used to be. And sometimes, we forget things or become absentminded. But when does this absentmindedness become something we should be worried about? If Alzheimer's disease has you worried, then you are not alone. Thousands of people every year are being diagnosed. However, you and your loved ones can look for indicative behaviors of the disease to give you a better idea of whether or not you need to see the doctor and get tested.

1. Loss of memory - If you or a loved one is having trouble remembering information that was learned not that long ago, then that could be one indication of the disease. We are not talking long-term memory, but something as simple as when garbage day is. Occasionally forgetting a date or name is not cause for concern.

2. Communication issues - Sometimes, the easiest words in the world are the hardest for Alzheimer's suffered to recall. When this happens, at times they might substitute weird words or gibberish. Their handwriting gets sloppy or illegible. Everyone at some point forgets a word, but if it is a consistent pattern, then it is another possibility of Alzheimer's.

3. Trouble with everyday tasks - This could be anything from forgetting how to make their favorite pancake batter half way through the process, when it is something they have done for years to placing a phone call and forgetting what they were calling about.

4. Getting lost or disoriented - You may often hear stories about someone afflicted with Alzheimer's sitting on a bus station bench because they cannot remember where they need to go. Sometimes, they can get lost in a familiar place and forget how to get home. If a familiar setting, like a church service, starts to make someone feel disoriented or nervous, these are also signs of the disease.

5. Mood swings and personality differences - Sometimes, a person with Alzheimer's has mood swings for no apparent reason. They may be happy and laughing one minute then all of the sudden show extreme anger over something trivial or imagined. A once independent, confident person could suddenly be clingy with a family member or become suspicious of the mail man.

Impaired judgment - A person who tries to wear a swimsuit in the dead of winter or woolen mittens on a hot summer day could be suffering from Alzheimer's. They may also think it is perfectly logical to dry their socks in the toaster, which could be a fire hazard. Not seeing the danger or risking their health is a big warning sign.

7. Misplacing things or not understanding complex tasks - Sometimes, people with Alzheimer's will put their ice cream in the oven or their clothes in the dishwasher. Misplacing things periodically happens, but when it is frequent with no apparent rhyme or reason, there should be cause for concern. Not being able to play a favorite game or balance a checkbook anymore are also indicators.

If any of these warning signs show up in a loved one or even yourself, you should really visit with a doctor. An early diagnosis of Alzheimer's could mean starting treatments that can slow down this disease. So far there is no cure, but gaining a few precious months of lucidity can mean the world to you and your family.