More than 6 million people in the U.S. are living with Alzheimer’s disease and every 65 seconds someone in the United States develop the disease making it important to learn about the early warning signs of the disease and other forms of dementia. Some ailments like stroke come on suddenly presenting noticeable symptoms, which allows us to take immediate action since delayed treatment can have negative consequences. On the other hand, Alzheimer’s is a condition where the symptoms are not that obvious, which most often leads to delayed diagnosis. This can worsen the situation further. The importance of early diagnosis cannot be emphasized enough. It can lead to improved quality of life for your beloved and an increased lifespan.

Here are some warning signs of Alzheimer’s you should watch out for:

Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia that leads to impairment in memory, thinking, and action. It must not be confused with age-related memory problems of ordinary forgetfulness or behavioral changes due to traumatic brain injury. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease. As the disease progresses, the patient may lose their ability to carry out daily activities, such as getting dressed, brushing teeth, having conversations, etc. The warning signs include

1.      Loss of memory

2.      Lost functioning (forgetting to getting dressed in the morning or brushing teeth, or not being able to remember how to cook a meal)

3.      Major changes in personality (changes in personal grooming to financial decision-making)

4.      Withdrawing from social activities

Delayed diagnosis can result in the victim losing a part of their independence that they may never enjoy again. You must have your parent or older adults get an appropriate medical evaluation if they show any of the aforementioned warning signs. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s at the moment, although there are medications that can help slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.

There’s no doubt that dementia and Alzheimer’s are some of the most difficult conditions for family members to deal with. The challenges increase as the condition progresses. But take into account the fact that failing to do so – or being unaware of the initial symptoms – can put your loved one’s life at stake. It’s true this is an illness one tends to shy away from dealing with, but living in denial is not a solution, it will just worsen the situation further. You are just losing out on time and meaningful interactions between you and your beloved. The only way to ensure your loved one’s company and quality of life for as long as possible is to recognize the early warning signs, get them evaluated and begin treating their condition if they are diagnosed with the condition.