Uncle Wang is a retired veteran worker, who worked hard and lived a regular life when he was young, and has always maintained the habit of going to the park every morning to exercise after retirement. Recently, however, his son, Wang Qiang, noticed that something didn't seem quite right with his father. Once, Uncle Wang went out to buy vegetables alone, but he got lost and was not sent home by a well-wisher until the evening. Such a situation not only worries the family, but also makes Uncle Wang himself confused and uneasy.
Uncle Wang's wife, Aunt Li, recalled that in recent months, Uncle Wang always forgot some daily chores, and even forgot where he put his keys and wallet a few times. At first, the family thought it was a normal sign of old age, but with the occurrence of the lost incident, everyone began to realize the seriousness of the problem. So, they decided to take Uncle Wang to the hospital for an examination.
After detailed questioning and examination, the doctor recommended that Uncle Wang undergo further cognitive function testing. Doctors explain that memory loss and loss of the way in older people may just be normal aging, but it can also be an early symptom of Alzheimer's disease. In order to help everyone better understand the difference between the two, the doctor listed several judgment criteria and explained them in detail to Wang Qiang and Aunt Li.
The difference between memory loss and Alzheimer's disease
Memory loss is a problem that many older people face, but not all memory loss means Alzheimer's. Normal memory loss is a common phenomenon in the aging process, which is mainly manifested by the occasional forgetting of some details, but it does not seriously affect daily life. For example, some seniors may forget the name of a movie they just watched, but they can recall it quickly after prompting. This condition generally does not cause serious disruption to their daily lives.
However, memory loss in Alzheimer's disease is more severe and persistent. People with Alzheimer's often forget important things and have difficulty recalling them even when prompted. For example, they may forget the names of their family members, important dates, or events that just happened. This loss of memory is not only frequent, but is often accompanied by a decline in other cognitive functions.
In addition to memory loss, another distinctive feature of Alzheimer's disease is getting lost. Getting lost in a familiar environment is one of the early signs of Alzheimer's disease. Normal older people occasionally can't find their way in unfamiliar places, but people with dementia can be disoriented even in familiar everyday environments. For example, Uncle Wang used to go to the park every morning to exercise, but now he often gets lost and can't even find his way home.
In addition, language difficulties are also one of the common symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Normal older people occasionally have difficulty finding words, but patients with dementia often have difficulty expressing themselves in everyday conversations. They may frequently use the wrong vocabulary or even be unable to complete a complete sentence. For example, when Uncle Wang was chatting with his neighbors, he often paused abruptly and didn't know how to continue to express himself.
Decreased judgment is also one of the important manifestations of Alzheimer's disease. Normal older people may become hesitant about certain complex decisions, but people with dementia also show significant loss of judgment when it comes to daily tasks. For example, Uncle Wang used to be in charge of the family's financial management, but now he often makes mistakes in his accounts and even fails to pay his bills correctly.
Loss of spatial perception is also one of the common symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. People with dementia have difficulty understanding spatial relationships and orientation, they may get lost in familiar surroundings, or they may not be able to properly use appliances in their homes. For example, Uncle Wang has not been able to use the microwave properly several times recently, and he doesn't even know how to turn on the TV.
Finally, Alzheimer's disease can also cause significant changes in personality and mood. Normal older people may feel anxious when faced with stress, but people with dementia have more pronounced and frequent mood changes. They may become irritable, anxious, and even have symptoms of depression. Uncle Wang used to have a cheerful personality, but now he often loses his temper because of some trivial things, and this change makes his family feel very confused and worried.
Memory loss: how to tell the difference between normal aging and dementia
Memory loss is common in the elderly, but the memory loss in Alzheimer's disease is more severe and obvious. For example, patients will not only forget everyday chores such as where to put their keys, but also important appointments and even family members' names. In addition, this memory loss is often accompanied by a deterioration of other cognitive functions, such as the inability to engage in normal conversations, difficulty completing familiar tasks, etc. If a person starts to frequently forget what just happened, or even what was just said, it could be an early warning sign of Alzheimer's disease.
Lost: Disorientation in a familiar environment
Getting lost in a familiar environment is a telltale symptom for people with Alzheimer's disease. For example, an elderly person may not find their way home in the park where they walk every day, or even get lost near their home. Getting lost not only affects daily life, but can also pose a safety hazard. If an elderly person begins to find their way in a familiar environment, they need to be vigilant and seek medical attention for professional assessment in time.
Difficulty in language expression: words do not convey meaning, and it is difficult to communicate
People with Alzheimer's disease also experience difficulties with language expression. They may have difficulty finding the right words, pause frequently when speaking, or even complete a sentence. This language barrier is not only manifested in speaking, but also in writing. People may repeat the same words or substitute the wrong words for what they originally wanted to say. This phenomenon not only affects communication, but also makes patients feel frustrated and helpless.
Decreased judgment: poor decision-making, abnormal behavior
Decreased judgment is another distinctive feature of Alzheimer's disease. Patients often make obvious mistakes when making decisions, such as making irrational decisions when dealing with financial problems, or being unable to judge the value of goods when shopping. In addition, they are slow to respond to emergencies and find it difficult to respond correctly. This loss of judgment can seriously affect the quality of life of patients and even endanger their lives.
Lack of spatial awareness: difficulty understanding orientation and position
Spatial loss is one of the common symptoms in patients with dementia. They may not be able to understand and judge directions, use maps or navigation tools properly, and get lost even in familiar environments. For example, patients may not be able to remember how to walk from their bedroom to the kitchen or can't find their car in the parking lot. This lack of spatial perception not only affects daily life, but can also lead to accidents.
Personality and mood changes: mood swings, personality changes
Alzheimer's disease causes significant changes in personality and mood. Older people who have always been gentle may become irritable, anxious, and even depressive. They may lose interest in activities they were previously interested in, become apathetic and withdrawn. These changes in mood and behaviour not only affect the mental health of patients, but also cause great distress to family members and caregivers.
Practical advice: How to cope with Alzheimer's disease
Prompt medical attention: professional assessment and diagnosis
If you notice that an elderly person is experiencing the above symptoms, you should take them to the doctor as soon as possible. A medical professional will evaluate the diagnosis through a detailed medical history, physical examination, cognitive function tests, and if necessary, imaging tests such as CT or MRI. Early detection and diagnosis can help patients better manage the disease and delay the progression of the disease.
Make a daily plan: Structured your life
Developing a detailed daily plan for people with dementia can help them maintain a certain routine. The plan should include daily living hours, meal times, activity schedules, etc. Through a structured life, the patient's anxiety can be relieved to a certain extent, and the burden on the caregiver can also be reduced.
Provide a safe environment: Reduce the risk of accidents
The safety of the home environment is particularly important for people with dementia. You can install non-slip mats, night lights, remove items that may trip over in your home, and keep your kitchen and bathroom safe. In addition, it is recommended to use GPS positioning devices to help patients quickly find their way home if they get lost.
Stay socially active: Prevent social isolation
Encourage people with dementia to participate in social activities and maintain interaction with family and friends. This not only enhances their cognitive function, but also prevents depression and anxiety. Simple social activities, such as family gatherings, community events, interest groups, etc., can be organized to help patients maintain a positive attitude towards life.
Cognitive training: stimulates brain activity
Cognitive training can be helpful for elderly patients with dementia. Through activities such as reading, writing, puzzles, and board games, the patient's brain activity can be stimulated and the deterioration of cognitive function can be delayed. The content of cognitive training should be tailored to the patient's interests and abilities to ensure that they are able to participate happily.
Caregiver support: Reduces psychological stress
Caregivers of people with dementia often face significant psychological stress and physical burden. Caregivers are advised to attend support groups regularly to exchange experiences with other caregivers, seek professional counselling, and maintain their physical and mental health. Patients can only be cared for better if caregivers remain healthy.
Although there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, through early detection and scientific management, the quality of life of patients can be significantly improved and the burden on families can be reduced. Hopefully, these criteria and practical advice will help you better address this challenge and focus on the health and well-being of older people.