• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Write Tribe

Challenging You To Write Bravely

  • Home
  • Archives
  • PR Information
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Contact
  • Blog

World Alzheimer’s Day 2014

September 20, 2014 By corinnerodrigues 5 Comments

World Alzheimer’s Day, September 21st of each year, is a day on which Alzheimer’s organizations around the world concentrate their efforts on raising awareness about Alzheimer’s and dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, a group of disorders that impairs mental functioning.

Every 68 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s disease. At current rates, experts believe the number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s will quadruple to as many as 16 million by the year 2050.

Alzheimer’s disease is often called a family disease, because the chronic stress of watching a loved one slowly decline affects everyone. 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and the only cause of death among the top 10 in the United States that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed. With the increases in life spans and baby boomers coming of age, support for Alzheimer’s research is more critical to our families than ever.

world alzheimer's day

10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s – Facts via http://www.alz.org/ 

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life. One of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s, especially in the early stages, is forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over; relying on memory aides (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own. What’s typical age-related change? Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.

2. Challenges in planning or solving problems. Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before. What’s typical age-related change? Making occasional errors when balancing a checkbook.

3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure. People with Alzheimer’s often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes, people may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game. What’s typical age-related change? Occasionally needing help to use the settings on a microwave or to record a television show.

4. Confusion with time or place. People with Alzheimer’s can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there. What’s typical age-related change? Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later.

5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer’s. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast. In terms of perception, they may pass a mirror and think someone else is in the room. They may not recognize their own reflection. What’s typical age-related change? Vision changes related to cataracts.

6. New problems with words in speaking or writing. People with Alzheimer’s may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name (e.g., calling a watch a “hand clock”). What’s typical age-related change? Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.

7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. Sometimes, they may accuse others of stealing. This may occur more frequently over time. What’s typical age-related change? Misplacing things from time to time, such as a pair of glasses or the remote control.

8. Decreased or poor judgment. People with Alzheimer’s may experience changes in judgment or decision making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money, giving large amounts to telemarketers. They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean. What’s typical age-related change? Making a bad decision once in a while.

9. Withdrawal from work or social activities. A person with Alzheimer’s may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team or remembering how to complete a favorite hobby. They may also avoid being social because of the changes they have experienced. What’s typical age-related change? Sometimes feeling weary of work, family and social obligations.

10. Changes in mood and personality. The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer’s can change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone. What’s typical age-related change? Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted.

Can we reduce the risk of dementia?

We invite you today to blog about this illness – to create awareness write a post on your blog sharing facts, stories, etc.

An InLinkz Link-up

Filed Under: Social Causes Tagged With: Alzheimer's disease, World Alzheimer's Day 2014

About corinnerodrigues

A lover of words. A self-acceptance blogger. A blogging coach. A book reviewer. A woman happily journeying through midlife, moving from self-improvement to self-acceptance and enjoying being herself.
Corinne writes at Everyday Gyaan, reviews fiction at CorinneRodrigues.com and encourages writers and bloggers at Write Tribe and offers offline coaching to writers and bloggers at The Frangipani Creative, located in Secunderabad, India.

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. Jessia Schwarzenbach says:
    July 2, 2015 at 7:12 pm

    World Alzheimer

    […]These very common problems are most often due to a much less serious condition involving slowing of mental processes with age. […]

    Reply
  2. Alzheimer’s : Close and personal | Hot cup of Kaapi says:
    September 23, 2014 at 4:33 pm

    […] This article in The Times of India – Alzheimer’s in India – paints a grim picture for the future.  For additional detailed information on Alzheimer’s, read it here. […]

    Reply
  3. World Alzheimer's Day | Sulekha Rawat: MemoirsSulekha Rawat: Memoirs says:
    September 21, 2014 at 4:29 pm

    […] at Write Tribe, are blogging about this illness today on World Alzheimer’s Day to create […]

    Reply
  4. If I forget? | Sulekha Rawat: MemoirsSulekha Rawat: Memoirs says:
    September 21, 2014 at 1:49 pm

    […] this to World Alzheimer’s Day- September 21 at Write […]

    Reply
  5. High five! | Nisha Sanjeev says:
    September 21, 2014 at 10:35 am

    […] this to World Alzheimer’s Day- September 21 at Write […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Categories

Disclosure: Please note that all posts and pages may contain affiliate links. For complete disclosures, commenting policies and PR information please read this page.
Jetpack

Looking To Advertise on Write Tribe?

Contact Corinne Rodrigues for details
DMCA.com Protection Status

This post might contain affiliate links, which means we receive a small amount of money if you make a purchase using this link.

Write Tribe On Instagram

No images found!
Try some other hashtag or username
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie and Privacy Policy
  • Home
  • Archives
  • PR Information
  • Contact
© 2019 - Write Tribe