Aging: Yes or No? Without being alarmed, learn to identify alert signs for Alzheimer Disease!

Sofia Neves (Clinical psychologist / Neuro-psychologist) . 21/09/2016

As years go by, we may start to feel that our brain is not functioning the same way as it used to, worsening its performance.

Many accept this matter peacefully, believing this process to be natural and related to aging. Others feel fear and insecurity and often try to hide from friends, colleagues and relatives the discomfort caused by changes in memory and concentratio

The uncertainty, between what’s normal and what may require an appointment with a specialist, might postpone access to an early diagnosis and an appropriate evaluation of cognitive changes, frequently related with the development of dementia.

Once there is a diagnosis, there are treatments that may delay progression of the condition and promote autonomy and life quality to the affected person.

In order to make the right decision, you should get familiar with alert signs for Alzheimer Disease:

Alert Signs

To forget part of or an entire event.

To gradually lose the ability to follow verbal or written statements.

To gradually lose the ability to follow the story of a novel or movie.

To gradually forget previously well-known data, such as historical or political facts.

To gradually lose the ability to autonomously shower or bathe, get dressed or eat.

To gradually lose the ability to make decisions.

To gradually lose the ability to manage your own budget.

To lose track of dates or seasons.

To have difficulties in keeping a conversation, not being able to maintain reasoning or remember appropriate words.

To misplace an object and not be able to retrace steps to find it.

What’s normal in the aging process

To have a vague memory of an event.

To maintain the ability to follow verbal or written statements.

To maintain the ability to follow the story of a novel or movie.

To forget about names or words but to remember them posteriorly.

To maintain the ability to shower or bathe, get dressed or eat, despite difficulties related with physical limitations.

To make a wrong decision occasionally.

To make occasional mistakes, for instance when writing a check.

To be confused about the day of the week but to figure it out later.

To forget, at times, the appropriate word to use.

To misplace things from time to time but to be able to retrace steps to find them.

Font: Alzheimer Portugal (http://alzheimerportugal.org/pt/text-0-9-33-34-sinais-de-alerta-para-um-diagnostico-precoce)