Nov. 14, 2001--
Can you tell the difference between normal forgetfulness and Alzheimer's disease?
If your answer is no, you're not alone.
Many people misinterpret the symptoms and wind up delaying treatment for their loved ones.
Here's NBC's Doctor Kevin Soden.
Since many of the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are similar to the signs of normal aging, it's hard to tell when a loved one might need help.
Like most diseases, Alzheimer's is best treated when it's caught early. In some cases with treatment, some of the symptoms can even be reversed.
Dr. Steven Potkin, Director of Clinical PsychiatricRresearch, University of California at Irvine: "There are effective treatments for Alzheimer's disease, and for some patients, they can even regain lost functions."
But before treatment can begin, patients have to be identified. Here's what to look for:
- Saying the same thing or asking the same question repeatedly
- Getting lost easily
- Losing interest in favorite activities
- Difficulty naming common items
- Losing things more often than normal
- Personality changes like unusual confusion, withdrawal, or suspicion
If one of your loved ones is exhibiting any of these symptoms, make an appointment with their physician.
Dr. Steven Potkin, Director of Clinical Psychiatric Research, University of California at Irvine: "It's critical for people to see a physician at the earliest signs of memory changes or of Alzheimer's disease. The reason for this is there's increasing evidence that early treatment can slow down the progress of Alzheimer's disease."
