Early detection of Alzheimer’s disease is possible, and drug treatment can slow the progression of the degenerative disease, says Dr. Thomas Ala, associate professor of clinical neurology at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield.
Apathy or depression can be early warning signs of Alzheimer’s, Ala says. One to two years before a significant loss of memory, there usually is a major personality change, loss of interest in usual activities and sadness, loneliness and hopelessness. Family members should be vigilant and seek help for a loved one from a family doctor, Ala says.
“There is a lot of evidence that medications can help Alzheimer’s disease. The feeling is that the medications slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, and if there is no change, that’s great,” Ala says.
He suggests using the warning signs from the Alzheimer’s Association and seeking help from a primary care doctor. And, “if your primary care doctor is too casual or if you are concerned and would like a second opinion, go to a memory clinic,” says Ala, a specialist at the Memory and Aging Clinic at SIU.
Warning signs include:
• Memory loss, especially loss of important information. While it is normal to forget appointments, names or telephone numbers, those with dementia will forget such things more often and not remember them later.
• Difficulty performing familiar tasks such as preparing a meal, using a household appliance or participating in a lifelong hobby.
• Problems with language, such as forgetting simple words or substituting unusual words, making speech or writing hard to understand.
• Disorientation to time and place, like forgetting where they are, how they got there and not knowing how to get back home.
• Poor or decreased judgment such as dressing inappropriately for the weather or giving away large amounts of money.
• Problems with abstract thinking. Balancing a checkbook may be difficult when the task is more complicated than usual. Misplacing things or put things in unusual places, like an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl.
• Changes in mood or behavior, especially rapid mood swings from calm to tears and anger, for no apparent reason.
• Changes in personality. People with Alzheimer’s can become extremely confused, suspicious, fearful or dependent on a family member.
• Loss of initiative. Someone with Alzheimer’s may become passive, sitting in front of the television for hours, sleeping more than usual or not wanting to do usual activities.
The Alzheimer’s Association provides help 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling (800) 272-3900 or by visiting www.alz.org.