Short Term Memory

Short term memory is impaired before long term memory. Individuals with Alzheimer disease may call a family member and not remember that they called 30 minutes previously. They may not remember that they have eaten. In the early stages of Alzheimer disease, it may be difficult to distinguish the loss of short term memory from that which occurs with normal aging. However, as Alzheimer disease progresses, it becomes obvious that the memory loss is much more severe than would occur with aging.

Emotional Disorders

Alzheimer patients may become emotional quickly. They may cry without any obvious reason. Since depression is very common in Alzheimer victims, it is important to test for this condition in those patients with depressed affect or other symptoms of depression. To learn more about depression and its treatment, click on the following link:

Problems with Speech

Patients may have a very hard time finding words to express what they wish to say. While all of us will have problems with speech on occasion, this occurs frequently in Alzheimer victims. Often, they will change the subject to avoid embarrassment. Sometimes, their speech is rambling and may taper off without warning.

Difficulties with Muscular Co-ordination

This is a subtle loss of fine co-ordination. It may not occur in all Alzheimer victims. It can be manifested by a patient no longer being able to conduct a simple task.

Failure to recognize familiar objects, places, persons

This is one of the devastating parts of Alzheimer disease. Affected individuals will fail to recognize familiar objects, places, and persons. They may fail to recognize pictures of family members or old friends. Alzheimer patients can get lost easily as they may not recognize the way back to their home or room. For this reason, it is necessary to have controls on Alzheimer victims to limit their wandering away from their homes or long term care facilities.

Impaired Judgement

The impaired judgement of Alzheimer victims can place them at risk for a number of problems including financial elder abuse. They may say and do inappropriate things. They may make faulty financial decisions that lead to the depletion of their savings. They are the prey for criminals who try to sell them investments or have other schemes to defraud them. These criminals share lists of older mentally impaired persons who are susceptible to financial fraud.

Personality Changes

Individuals with Alzheimer disease often become paranoid. They may imagine that they are being followed or that their spouse is having an affair. This later situation can cause tremendous strain on the caregiving spouse. This is one of the many reasons that caregivers need support through their ordeal of caring for an Alzheimer victim.

Decreased Intellectual Functioning

There is a general intellectual decline in Alzheimer disease. It is a human tragedy to see a brilliant scientist or lawyer barely able to conduct a conversation. It is important to be supportive to all Alzheimer victims since they are usually aware of this intellectual decline and are frequently depressed.