Newswise, December 29, 2015-- The holidays are a time when
families get together -- sometimes after long periods apart.
"If you haven’t seen your elderly loved one in a while,
you might be more likely to notice changes in their memory and behavior that
worries you," said Gregory Jicha, M.D., Ph.D., of the UK Sanders-Brown
Center on Aging.
Look for these early signs of dementia in an elderly loved
one:
• It's normal for someone to forget a date or a name but
suddenly remember it later. However, pay attention if they ask for the same
information repeatedly, or struggle to recall important dates (like their own
birthdate).
• Are they having trouble following a recipe? Problem-solving
skills can deteriorate in someone with Alzheimer's.
• Do they get lost when driving to a familiar location? If
they have difficulty completing familiar tasks, it might be a sign of AD.
• Healthy people occasionally struggle to find the right word,
but using the wrong word -- particularly if they call something by the wrong
name -- merits further scrutiny.
• Poor judgment: are they giving lots of money to
telemarketers or charities?
• Poor hygiene.
• Personality changes: are they suddenly irrational, fearful,
or suspicious?
If you see any behavior that worries you, talk to your doctor.
