As people get older, their memory naturally declines and they can often forget little things such as dates, where they left something, or what they did a few days ago. You may have started to notice such changes in someone close to you and are concerned that something isn’t quite right but you aren’t sure what or how serious things are.
It can be hard to establish the difference between the normal ageing process and Alzheimer’s disease yet there are key differences. If you’ve noticed memory problems in someone you know, ask yourself the following questions:
- Are they forgetting appointments?
- Are they losing things more than usual?
- Do they have difficulty with familiar names or words?
- Do they feel unsure in familiar places?
- Do they have poor concentration?
If you are concerned that someone you know may have Alzheimer’s disease, don’t wait for the problem to be ‘discovered’ at their regular check-up with the doctor, plan a visit right away. The advice in the downloadable guide, together with the “Questions for your Doctor” checklist on the last page of the guide, can help you to prepare for and get the most out of your consultation.
