Would you know the signs of early Alzheimers' Disease?

Approximately 200,000 Americans under the age of 65 have younger-onset Alzheimers' disease. Alzheimers' worsens over time. Alzheimers' is a progressive disease, where dementia symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years. In its early stages, memory loss is mild, but with late-stage Alzheimers', individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment. Alzheimers' is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. On average, a person with Alzheimers' lives four to eight years after diagnosis, but can live as long as 20 years, depending on other factors.

We all know a friend or family member who is suffering from Alzheimers'. Alzheimers' affects the brain and cause decay in memory, reason, and thought process. A person suffering from Alzheimers' who is healthy can display signs of trouble making sense of the world around them. The realization that something is wrong often comes gradually to the person and his or her family.

The 15 warning signs and symptoms that we need to be aware off when caring for a loved one with Alzheimers':

1. Increased confusion and memory loss ( difficulty recognizing family and friends)

2. Poor judgment leading to bad decisions

3. Unable to learn new things

4. Trouble with language skills

5. Difficulty with writing, working with numbers and reading

6. Short attention span

7. In capacity of dealing with unfamiliar situations

8. Difficulty with task such as brushing teeth and dressing

9. Irrelevant behavior such as vulgar language or inappropriate outbursts of anger

10. Repetitive statements or movement, occasional muscle twitches

11. Repeating questions

12. Wandering and getting lost

13. Losing things or misplacing them in odd places

14. Mood and personality changes

15. Increeased anxiety and/or aggression

Alzheimers' has no current cure, but treatments for symptoms are available and research continues. Although current Alzheimers' treatments cannot stop Alzheimers' from progressing, they can temporarily slow the worsening of dementia symptoms and improve quality of life for those with Alzheimers' and their caregivers. Today, there is a worldwide effort under way to find better ways to treat the disease, delay its onset, and prevent it from developing.