How To Tell The
Difference Between
Alzheimer's and
Normal Aging
Only a doctor can diagnose Alzheimer's
Disease, but it's up to you to recognize
warning signs in yourself or loved ones that
warrant follow-up.
If you really do have Alzheimer's, the sooner
you see your doctor about your concerns, the
sooner you can start on treatments that may
help slow the disease's progression so there's
no better time learn about and watch for these
five signs:
1. Disruptive memory loss: Inabili-
ty to go about normal daily tasks due
to memory loss is a key symptom of
Alzheimer's. Normal forgetfulness
and absentmindedness will not impair
your ability to learn new information or
cause you to ask the same questions,
but Alzheimer's can do both.
2. Trouble articulating things:
People with Alzheimer's are more
likely to struggle with communication.
It's possible that they'll have trouble
following or joining a conversation.
They could also stop in the middle of a
story, repeat themselves or call objects
by the wrong names.
These struggles can be succinctly
described as a general sense of
confusion.
3. Increasing difficulty with
problem-solving:Difficulty completing
simple math equations, making familiar
recipes or balancing customary budget
items is not normal. Experiencing mul-
tiple issues of this kind or experiencing
difficulty with calculations you used to
