Alzheimer’s: Symptoms and Causes

June is Alzheimer’s awareness month and this gives us the opportunity to talk about a disease that causes the brain cells to deteriorate and eventually die. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia in older adults and this makes it imperative to know about Alzheimer’s so that you can seek appropriate care of your elderly family member at home.

Arming yourself with an understanding of the disease can prepare you and your family for the different challenges that you may face ahead. Although Alzheimer’s disease is just one type of dementia, it is the most severe one. Being a progressive disease, the symptoms will increase in their severity. At the beginning, those with Alzheimer’s will have a hard time remembering things and gradually, other symptoms will appear. To know more about the symptoms, keep reading.

Warning signs of Alzheimer’s

Memory loss: Are your elderly family members being too forgetful these days? Forgetfulness is a normal part of ageing, however, if it’s affecting their daily life, then it can be among the many early signs of Alzheimer’s. Your loved ones may forget recent events, have difficulty in recalling names of familiar people.

Ability to solve simple problems: Alzheimer’s makes it difficult for people to concentrate and, thus, doing basic activities like making a grocery list, tracking monthly bills, can get difficult. This becomes more pronounced as the disease progresses.

Daily activities get challenging: Those with Alzheimer’s may find doing daily tasks difficult. They may feel disoriented and get lost easily. Something as simple as taking a morning walk on their own can become difficult as they may forget the way back home. They may forget where they are or how they got there.

Social withdrawal: Your loved one is no longer enjoying activities that they used to earlier. He or she is no longer hanging out with friends or sleeping more than usual, you should pay attention and see if there are any other accompanying symptoms.

Visual troubles: Finding it difficult to read or identifying colours is also among the warning signs of Alzheimer’s. This may make daily activities like driving, reading books and identifying labels difficult.

What causes Alzheimer’s?
People who are old get Alzheimer’s but it’s not a normal part of ageing as many think. The disease, it is thought, is caused by an abnormal buildup of certain proteins in the brain. Besides this, genes have an important role in it. Those with a family history of Alzheimer’s are likely to have the disease too.

Looking for a neurologist doctor in Siliguri?
Just because your loved one forgot a name or is a bit unorganised when it comes to daily tasks doesn’t mean he or she has Alzheimer’s. If you think your loved one is exhibiting signs of Alzheimer’s, the best thing to do is to see a neurologist who can help you understand the symptoms. You can consult neurologist doctors in Siliguri at Neotia Getwel Healthcare Centre. The department of neurology has some of the best neurologists and neurosurgeons. Seeking early medical intervention can help your loved one live a better quality of life.