Determining when a loved one is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease is not always easy. We often choose to ignore the early warning signs as merely the effects of aging or as minor quirks. However, detecting the disease early can offer a greater range of opportunities both in medical care and in MassHealth planning. While only a qualified physician can conclude with high certainty that a person has Alzheimer’s disease, Caring.com recently published an instructive article on eight symptoms that are strongly associated with the disease, including:
- Memory lapses
- Confusion over words
- Marked changes in mood or personality
- Trouble with abstract thinking
- Difficulty completing familiar activities
- Disorientation
- Misplacing items
- Poor or impaired judgment
Many of these Alzheimer’s symptoms go unnoticed for a long time because they’re often subtle or well concealed by the person (or a spouse). Also, certain patterns of behavior take time to make themselves obvious. If you detect these signs in a loved one, keep track of what you’re noticing and ask others who know your loved one what they think. If you suspect Alzheimer’s, it would be wise to seek a medical evaluation.
