Keeping Track of Family: Are Grandma and Grandpa OK?

By Lisa McGrath

This holiday sesson, many of us are looking forward to visiting family and friends.

Visiting older family members may give us a chance to check in on them and make sure they’re doing well and continuing to live in good health.

One concerning change you might notice is increased memory loss. You may be wondering if it is a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease, a fatal brain disease that causes a decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills, or another form of dementia.

To help you understand what to look for, the Alzheimer’s Association has created a list of the 10 signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s:

1) Memory loss that disrupts daily life.

The most common sign is forgetting recently learned information.

This can include forgetting important dates or events, asking the same questions over and over, and increasingly needing to rely on memory aids or family members for things they used to handle on their own.

2) Challenges in planning or solving problems.

Some people living with dementia may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers.

They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills.

3) Difficulty completing daily tasks.

People with Alzheimer’s often find it hard to complete daily tasks.

Sometimes they may have trouble driving to a familiar location, organizing a grocery list or remembering the rules of a favorite game.

4) Confusion with time or place.

People living with Alzheimer’s can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time.

They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately.

Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there.

5) Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships.

For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer’s. This may lead to difficulty with balance or trouble reading.

They may also have problems judging distance and determining color or contrast, causing issues with driving.

6) New problems with words or speaking.

People living with Alzheimer’s may have trouble following or joining a conversation.

They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves.

They may struggle with vocabulary, have trouble naming a familiar object or use the wrong name (e.g., calling a “watch” a “hand-clock”).

7) Misplacing things and losing the ability to replace steps.

A person living with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places.

They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again.

He or she may accuse others of stealing, especially as the disease progresses.

8) Decreased or poor judgment.

Individuals may experience changes in judgment or decision-making.

For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money or pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean.

9) Withdrawal from work or social activities.

A person living with Alzheimer’s disease may experience changes in the ability to hold or follow a conversation.

As a result, he or she may withdraw from hobbies, social activities or other engagements. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite team or activity.

10) Changes in mood or personality.

Individuals living with Alzheimer’s may experience mood and personality changes.

They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, with friends or when out of their comfort zone.

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If you notice any of these symptoms in your loved one this holiday season, don’t ignore them.

Schedule an appointment with his/her doctor. With early detection, your family member can explore treatments that may provide some relief of symptoms and help him/her maintain a level of independence longer, as well as increase the chances of participating in dementia clinical drug trials.

The Alzheimer’s Association is here to help. Call our 24/7 helpline at (800) 272-3900 or go to alz.org/norcal.