Q. My parents are beginning to forget certain thing. I believe that some of this is normal for folks in their 80′s. How do you know if it’s Alzheimer’s, and at what point is some level of intervention or medical help needed?

A. As we age it is normal to experience a slowing in thinking processes. We also lose some ability in the areas of short-term recall; and it is not at all unusual to forget people’s names or to misplace keys. However, if their symptoms go beyond typical age-related changes in cognition and behavior, contact the Alzheimer’s Early Detection Alliance. Their website is AEDA@alz.org and you can call them at 312-335-5712. They can provide you with dates and locations of free memory screenings in your community, and they are a tremendous resource for information and education.

The Alzheimer’s Association has published a list of 10 Warning Signs. If these behaviors sound familiar, you should talk to your parents about seeing a geriatric neurologist right away. While there is not yet a cure for Alzheimer’s, there are a number of medications that can help manage the symptoms.

ALZHEIMER’S WARNING SIGNS
1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life. A common sign is when a person forgets recently learned information, forgets important dates and events, asks for the same information over and over, and has to rely on memory aides or family members to help handle things they used to deal with on their own.

2. Challenges in planning or solving problems. Some people experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. Following a recipe, keeping track of monthly bills, maintaining concentration can become difficult.

3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure. Sometimes people may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game.

4. Confusion with time or place. People 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. Difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast can be signs of Alzheimer’s. People may not recognize themselves in the mirror and actually think that someone else is in the room.

6. New problems with words in speaking or writing. People 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 to find the right word or call things by the wrong name (e.g., calling a “watch” and “hand-clock”).

7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps. A person 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. They may accuse others of stealing.

8. Decreased or poor judgment. People with Alzheimer’s may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. They may use poor judgment when dealing with money. They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean.

9. Withdrawal from work or social activities. A person with Alzheimer’s may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team or remembering how to complete a favorite hobby.

10. Changes in mood and personality. People with Alzheimer’s can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone.

There are more than 70 different types of dementia, and the only way to know for sure whether a person has Alzheimer’s is through the results of an autopsy. So the diagnosis isn’t as important as the behavior. You know it is time to intervene and seek help when you become aware that their safety is at risk. There are six major areas of safety you want to consider: Physical, Mental, Emotional, Social, Financial, and Legal. If you feel that they are no longer capable of managing these aspects of their lives safely, then you know it is time for you to get involved in managing their care.