Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness
November 30th, 2009
Early detection and treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease are key in halting cognitive decline. Awareness of the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) in family members and friends may prompt treatment which will allow independence for a greater period of time.
The Alzheimer’s Association launched a new education campaign this year called “Know the 10 Signs: Early Detection Matters”.
10 Warning signs of Alzheimer’s Disease
- Memory changes that disrupt daily life
- Challenges in planning or solving problems
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work, or at leisure
- Confusion with time or place
- Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
- New problems with words in speaking or writing
- Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
- Decreased or poor judgment
- Withdrawal from work or social activities
- Changes in mood and personality
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette did a feature article last year on a former pilot who has early-onset Alzheimer’s with an update in their November 29, 2009 edition. This new article is quite timely for two reasons. One is that November is National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. The second reason is that this gentleman is now in a drug trial for a promising investigational Alzheimer’s medication which may reverse cognitive decline rather than just slowing down the progression of the disease like current medications.
June L. Caldwell, RPh, FASCP