The holidays are a magical time of year that we often spend time with

extended family members and family friends, including the aging members

of our social networks.   

In the United States of America 6.9 million people are living with Alzheimer’s

or related disorders.  1 in 3 seniors die from Alzheimer’s or related disorders.

Over 11 million family members or friends provide unpaid care for people

living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias.  There are treatments available to

slow the progression and support symptom management, however there is

no cure for Alzheimer’s or related diseases.

Memory loss can disrupt daily life for individuals living with Alzheimer’s or

other related dementia disorders.  Cognitive Disorders are diseases that

impact the brain and can cause slow decline in memory, thinking and

reasoning skills. 

There are 10 warning signs and symptoms associate with cognitive disorders. These include:

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life: forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events, asking the same questions over and over, and increasingly needing to rely on memory aids (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own.

2. Challenges in planning or solving problems: 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.

3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks: finding it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes they may have trouble driving to a familiar location, organizing a grocery list or remembering the rules of a favorite game.

4. Confusion with place and/or time: 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.

5. Trouble understanding visual images and special relationships: experience vision changes. This may lead to difficulty with balance or trouble reading. They may also have problems judging distance and determining color or contrast, causing issues with driving.

6. New difficulty with words in speaking or writing: 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 trouble naming a familiar object or use the wrong name (e.g., calling a "watch" a "hand-clock").

7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps: place items in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. He or she may accuse others of stealing, especially as the disease progresses.

8. Diminished/Poor Judgement: For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money or pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean.

9. Withdrawal from work, social activities or other once enjoyed activities: withdraw from hobbies, social activities, or other engagements. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite team or activity.

10. Changes in mood and/or personality: become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful, or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, with friends or when out of their comfort zone.

If you have concerns about a loved one, please speak to a medical professional for medical care and advice.  To learn more information regarding Alzheimer’s Disease and related diagnoses please visit the Alzheimer’s Association Website at https://www.alz.org/ or call their 24/7 Helpline at 1-800-272-3900. 

Resource: Alzheimer’s Association. 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. Alzheimer’s Dement 2024;20(5).