Symptoms of Alzheimer's and Dementia

Symptoms of Alzheimer's and Dementia | Bahama Bay Club

Alzheimer’s and dementia are dreadful diseases. It affects the patient’s brain, mainly the memory function. Alzheimer’s is a neurologic disorder and causes the brain to diminish. Eventually, the brain cells will die. Dementia, on the other hand, is an unceasing deterioration in social skills, behavior, and thinking skills. It affects the ability of the patient to function independently. Alzheimer’s and dementia are intertwined memory diseases because Alzheimer’s is the most typical cause of dementia.

Statistics say that about 5.8 million elderly people in the United States have Alzheimer’s disease. Around 55 percent of elders who are 65 years old and above are suffering from dementia while 80 percent of them are 75 years old and above. 

It is essential to have some knowledge of the red flags on Alzheimer’s and dementia. Early detection and treatment of these diseases are helpful not only to patients but also to their families.

Early signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia

Common symptoms of dementia

  1. Difficulty in remembering events, names, and faces;
  2. Gets confused easily;
  3. Reduced concentration;
  4. Changes in personality and usual behavior;
  5. Withdrawal;
  6. Apathy towards people and their surroundings;
  7. Depression; and
  8. Progressive loss of capability to perform daily tasks.

Early symptoms of Alzheimer’s

  1. Loss of memory;
  2. Poor or lack of proper judgment to situations, leading to bad decisions;
  3. Loss of sense of independence and initiative;
  4. Takes longer to accomplish daily activities;
  5. Difficulty to comprehend questions;
  6. Tend to repeat questions;
  7. Unusual wandering;
  8. Getting lost;
  9. Misplacing or losing personal belongings;
  10. Developing anxiety; and
  11. Shows unusual aggression.

These symptoms are often hard to recognize because people tend to see them as usual consequences of aging. Symptoms are progressive and remain disregarded for an extended period.

It is common to forget your schedule sometimes. Even younger children tend to forget things like the lessons they have studied for in an exam. But people with dementia forget things frequently and without any exception. Worst case scenario, they do not remember anything at all.

Medical experts say that people with dementia develop a strong feeling of wandering to another place. When this happens, they often get lost and feel unfamiliar with their surroundings. Unfortunately, they do not know how to get home anymore. In effect, they get confused about where and who they are.

Most people with dementia also tend to live in the past. That is why most of them act like a child and no longer recognize their partners and children.

Everyone gets moody, feels stressed and depressed from time to time, depending on the circumstances. However, people with dementia and Alzheimer’s have rapid mood changes. They quickly and randomly shift from one mood to another without any reason. Anything can trigger and provoke them. 

If you notice these symptoms in your parents, seek medical help immediately.

Are you looking for a memory care facility? 

Call BAHAMA BAY CLUB now at 386-216-4141 or email us at info@bahamabayclub.com. We provide top-notch memory care facilities. We can discuss how we can be of help to you.