Alzheimer's Q&A

	What is Alzheimer's Disease?
	Alzheimer's is a degenerative disease that usually begins gradually, causing a person to forget recent events or familiar tasks. How rapidly it advances varies from person to person, but the brain disease eventually causes confusion, personality and behavior changes and impaired judgment. Communication becomes difficult as the affected person struggles to find words, finish thoughts or follow directions. Eventually, most people with Alzheimer's become unable to care for themselves.
	What is Dementia?
	Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe the loss of cognitive or intellectual function. Many conditions can cause dementia. Dementia related to depression, drug interaction, thyroid and other problems may be reversed if detected early. That's one of the reasons why it's important that a professional assessment takes place, so that the actual cause can be identified and proper care provided. Other causes of dementia include, strokes, Huntington's disease, and Parkinson's disease.

What are the Warning Signs?

Memory loss that affects job skills. It's normal to occasionally forget an assignment, deadline or colleague's name. But frequent forgetfulness or unexplainable confusion at home or in the workplace may signal that something's wrong.

Difficulty performing familiar tasks. Busy people get distracted from time to time. For example, you might leave something on the stove too long or not remember to serve part of a meal. People with Alzheimer's might prepare a meal and not only forget to serve it, but also forget they made it.

Problems with language. Everyone has trouble finding the right word sometimes, but a person with Alzheimer's disease may forget simple words or substitute inappropriate words, making his or her sentences difficult to understand.

Disorientation to time and place. It's normal to momentarily forget the day of the week or what you need from the store. But people with Alzheimer's disease can become lost on their own street, not knowing where they are, how they got there, or how to get back home.