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The Alzheimer’s Association advocates efforts that increase early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, a degenerative fatal disease that currently affects approximately 5.3 million Americans. Alzheimer’s is a very complex disease and unfortunately today there is no quick and accurate test to determine whether a person has Alzheimer’s disease. The Alzheimer’s Association does not support community-based memory screening in general populations. The term, “memory screening” generally refers to the use of a brief mental status test that gives a numerical score to indicate the presence or absence of cognitive impairment.

Often these brief mental tests result in “false positives” and “false negatives.”  “False positives” occur when a person fails or scores poorly on a test but does not have Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia. This happens most often among ethnic minorities, persons for whom English is a second language and persons with low educational level. “False negatives” occur when a person “passes” or scores well on a test but actually does have Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia. This happens most often for persons with a high educational level.

The Alzheimer’s Association strongly believes any procedure that uses a score on a brief mental status test to indicate presence or absence of cognitive impairment should only be used in a physician office or medical clinic and not in nonmedical, community settings, especially when the test is conducted by individuals without proper training. Accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease requires a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation by a qualified physician that should include: a thorough review of a person’s medical history, physical and neurological exams, laboratory tests, and imaging tests. Interviews with family members or close friends about changes in a person’s cognitive functioning and behavior should also be conducted whenever possible.  A diagnostic evaluation based on all of these elements provides the best possible assurance that the resulting diagnosis will be accurate and the appropriate follow up will be conducted.

The Alzheimer’s Association has developed a list of the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s.  If you’ve experienced any of these warning signs, it’s important that you see a physician who is experienced in diagnosing and treating Alzheimer’s.

Ten Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s

1. Memory changes that disrupt daily life.  One of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s, especially in the early stages, is forgetting recently learned information. Others including forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over; relying on memory aides (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own.
2. Challenges in planning on solving problems.  Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers which may include challenges 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 at home, at work at leisure. People with Alzheimer’s often find it hard to complete daily tasks, which may include difficulty driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game.
4. Confusion with time or place. People with Alzheimer’s can 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 spatial relationships. For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer’s. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast. In terms of perception, they may pass a mirror and think someone else is in the room or they may be unable to recognize their own reflection.
6. New problems with words in speaking or writing. People with Alzheimer’s may have 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 problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name (e.g., calling a “watch” a “hand-clock”).
7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps. A person with Alzheimer’s may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. Sometimes, they accuse others of stealing which may occur more frequently over time.
8. Decreased or poor judgment.  People with Alzheimer’s may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money or give large amounts to telemarketers. They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean.
9. Withdrawal from work or social activities.  A person with Alzheimer’s may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may have trouble keeping with up a favorite sports team or remembering how to complete a favorite hobby. They may also avoid being social because of the changes they have experienced.
10. Changes in mood and personality.  The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer’s can change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious.  They may be easily upset at home, at work, or with friends or in places outside of their comfort zone.