How Do I Know If It's Alzheimer's?

Last Updated: May 24, 2019

Every 65 seconds, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s disease. With more than 5.8 million people in the U.S. living with the disease in 2019, there’s no better time to learn about the early warning signs of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

Forewarned is forearmed when it comes to the disease and knowing how to spot the signs of potential illness and how to know if it’s Alzheimer’s is a critical line of defense in the fight against age-related cognitive diseases.

How to Know If It’s Alzheimer’s Disease

Most people are unaware of how Alzheimer’s and dementia actually attack the human body.

Research has shown that there are plaques that first attack the brain and these plaques not only physically deteriorate it, but also inhibit normal nervous system functioning to the rest of the body. These physical changes are what determine whether someone actually suffers from the disease or not.

But how do we know whether we are having a “senior moment” or whether there’s actually cause for concern? Here are some tell-tale signs:

1. Alzheimer’s or neurological symptoms?

Neurological problems can be a warning sign for Alzheimer’s and dementia. After all, our brains are part of the nervous system. So if you’re having these sorts of problems with your motor skills, it’s definitely worth visiting a doctor:

• Major changes in personality:Big changes in from financial decision-making to personal grooming
• Physical changes:Whether reading is suddenly difficult, or judging distance or discerning color seems a challenge
• Trouble speaking or writing:Including struggles with following a conversation or repeating oneself

2. Alzheimer’s or “senior moments?”

We can all have a bad day, but there’s definitely a difference between a minor episode or two compared to frequent issues with the following:

• Brain freeze: Forgetting the rules of a game, losing your train of thought or forgetting where you’re going are part of normal human experience, but the frequency and severity of these episodes can foreshadow a problem
• Confusion: Forgetting an appointment is normal, but forgetting the appointment location — or how to get there — can signal a warning
• Losing things: We’ve all misplaced our keys, but misplacing objects on a daily basis may be cause for concern

3. Dementia or depression?

Often depression can be confused for dementia. If feeling overwhelmed or overwrought, your brain is often overloaded (and “over” anything can’t be good). Here are some signs that you could be suffering from either depression or dementia — and a doctor is the best person to distinguish the difference:

• Difficulty concentrating: Where you’re having trouble following plans and recipes, or having problems keeping track of bills
• Disruptions in everyday life: Such as forgetting recently learned information or needing to rely more on other people for daily tasks
• Mood swings: Such as unusual anxiety, confusion, fear, paranoia, suspicion or recognized depression
• Social withdrawal: Including removal from hobbies, sports and work activities

4. Is it Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia?

While Alzheimer’s and dementia are related, they are still very different diseases. While they resemble each other in many ways, there are still distinct mental and physical differences that make them two very different beings. While it is usually a straightforward task for a physician to determine whether someone has dementia, the cause is not always easy to pinpoint. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, memory loss can be caused by a number of treatable conditions, such as:

• Brain tumors
• Depression
• Heart disease
• Malnutrition
• Thyroid problems
• Vitamin deficiencies

As well as by other dementia-causing illnesses. Vascular dementia, for instance, is the second most common cause of dementia after Alzheimer’s, but it is more likely to present itself in impaired judgment than in the memory loss characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease.

Once it is determined whether someone has Alzheimer’s or dementia — the treatments can be very different.

How Doctors Test for Alzheimer’s

It is imperative to have your parent or senior loved ones get an appropriate medical evaluation if they show any of the above warning signs.

If the condition is treatable, then they may not need to worry about Alzheimer’s at all. If they do have Alzheimer’s and dementia or another dementia-causing condition, a timely diagnosis can help you plan for the future.

Learn more about Alzheimer’s and dementia care facilities and explore possible treatments.

Has knowledge of these early Alzheimer’s warning signs helped you get a family member the care they need? Share your story in the comments below.

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• 10 Alzheimer’s Warning Signs
• Dementia Treatment
• How to Recognize Signs It’s Time for Assisted Living