It isn’t easy to distinguish the normal forgetfulness that occurs with aging from the onset of Alzheimer’s. As we get older we gradually lose brain cells, and our brain processes slow making it harder for us to recall a certain event, a name, or a telephone number at a moment’s notice. But scientists now know that these memories are not entirely lost in healthy people. They simply take more time to retrieve.
In the early stages of Alzheimer’s, most people have trouble recalling recent events. So while they can still rattle off all the names of their best friends from high school, they will have difficulty remembering where they went for lunch yesterday, what they ate for breakfast that morning, or who they saw an hour ago. These recent memories are stored in the hippocampus, which is where Alzheimer’s typically begins.
What also makes Alzheimer’s Disease hard to detect at first is the person’s capacity for hiding any memory deficits. In these early stages, the person can still function normally and behave properly. She may be well aware of shortcomings in her memory and make efforts to hide them, sometimes successfully for several years. Rather than venture into unfamiliar places or do new things for instance, she may stick with surroundings she knows and activities she can do well.
In some cases, it isn’t until a person is placed in a stressful or unfamiliar situation that loved ones begin to suspect Alzheimer’s. The death of a spouse, a trip to an unfamiliar locale, or moving to a new home can bring out the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease when the person becomes distraught by the changes they’re experiencing. The changes may be so disturbing that the person will display severe anxiety and fearfulness.
Another challenge in detecting Alzheimer’s is the inconsistency of the symptoms. The person’s memory may be better on some days than others. He may also demonstrate selective memory, recalling for instance, that he has a doctor’s appointment next week, but forgetting a lunch date tomorrow.
So how do you know if your forgetfulness is something more serious than normal? Here are some telltale signs from the American Academy of Family Physicians:
• The frequency of your forgetfulness is increasing.
• You’re having trouble remembering how to do things you’ve done numerous times before, like preparing a favorite recipe or paying bills.
• You have difficulty learning new things.
• You find yourself repeating phrases or stories in the same conversation.
• You have trouble making choices or handling money.
• You cannot keep track of what happens each day.