Dear Savvy Senior,
My mother, who’s 72, has become very forgetful lately and is worried she may have Alzheimer’s. Is her forgetfulness really something we should worry about? What should we do?
~ Worried Daughter
Dear Worried,
Many seniors worry about memory lapses as they get older, fearing it may be the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease or some other type of dementia. To get some insight on the seriousness of your mom’s problem, here are some key warning signs to be vigilant of and some resources you can turn to for help.
Warning signs
As we grow older, some memory difficulties – such as trouble remembering names of people or places or forgetting where you put your glasses – are associated with normal aging. But the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are much more than simple memory lapses. Knowing the early warning signs is a good first step in recognizing the difference between typical age-related memory loss and a more serious problem. To help you evaluate your mom’s condition, here’s a checklist of some common early symptoms to watch for:
• Asking the same questions repeatedly.
• Getting lost in familiar areas.
• Failing to recognize familiar people.
• Having difficulty following directions.
• Misplaces items in inappropriate places, for example putting her keys in the microwave.
• Having difficulty completing familiar tasks like cooking a meal or paying a bill.
• Having trouble remembering common words when speaking, or mixing up words.
For more information, the Alzheimer’s Association provides a list of 10 warning signs that you can access at 10signs.org, or call 800-272-3900 and request a free copy of their booklet “Basics of Alzheimer’s Disease: What it is and what you can do.”
Another good screening tool is the self-administered cognitive screening (SAGE) test that was developed at The Ohio State University Medical Center. This test helps identify mild cognitive impairment and early dementia, and can be taken at home in about 10 to 15 minutes. You can download the SAGE test along with scoring instructions at sagetest.osu.edu.
Get help
After going through the warning signs and/or testing of your mom, if you’re still concerned, get her in to see her doctor for a thorough medical examination. Her doctor may then refer her to a geriatrician or neurologist who specializes in diagnosing and treating memory loss or Alzheimer’s disease.