Founders Day February 21 - William Penn Life

Our Health Corner with Debbie Wolfe, RNAlzheimer’s10 warningsigns thatyou may beexperiencingmore thantypical agerelated change© Sangoiri/Dreamstime.comHave you ever forgotten where your keys are,or where you put that pizza coupon? Well, of course;we all have. I usually laugh it off and say, “it’s justmy Alzheimer’s again!” But, do we really know thedifference between typical age-related change andAlzheimer’s disease?Few families are fortunate enough to say they havenot been impacted by Alzheimer’s disease. This is aprogressive, degenerative disease of the brain, impairingthinking and memory, accounting for 50 to 60percent of dementia cases, according to the Alzheimer’sAssociation.Though many of our experiences with Alzheimer’sdisease involve an elderly friend or relative, the diseaseis not exclusive to the elderly. Up to five percentof people with the disease had early-onset, meaningtheir symptoms began when they were in their 40’sand 50’s.Here are 10 warnings signs of Alzheimer’s disease.1. Memory Loss Disrupting Daily Life. Memoryloss is the most common sign of Alzheimer’s. This isespecially so if one forgets things that happen veryrecently. Additional signs include forgetting importantdates and events, asking for the same informationover and over again. Or relying on memory aids,like notes and other family members to remind youof things you once had no problem remembering onyour own.Typical age related change: Sometimes forgettingnames or appointments but remembering them later.2. Difficulty Planning. Some people might beginhaving difficulty following a plan or working withnumbers. It may be seen in following a recipe or payingthe monthly bills. Concentration is difficult forpersons with Alzheimer’s.Typical age related change: Making an occasionalerror in your checkbook or forgetting to pay the waterbill.3. Difficulty Completing Familiar Tasks. Dailytasks, such as driving to work or remembering therules of a familiar game, will be difficult for peoplewith Alzheimer’s.Typical age related change: Occasionally needinghelp the set the microwave or record a televisionshow.4. Disorientation with Time and or Place.People with Alzheimer’s lose track of dates, seasons10 º February 2012 º William Penn Life