Brain Health: June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month
I can’t get people to understand how important the Alzheimer’s fight is to me.
Jim Nantz
Approximately one in ten people who are 65 or older has Alzheimer’s, and that does not even include those who have other dementia conditions. During the month of June, we take the opportunity to raise awareness and propel the conversation about brain health forward. Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month is a time for all of us to advocate for and support the fight to end the mental health disease, whether that be through donating to organization like the Alzheimer’s Association or through finding resources to better care for your brain health. To help get you started on your dementia knowledge journey, we’ve pulled together a list of the early signs of Alzheimer’s.
10 Early Signs of Alzheimer’s and Other Forms of Dementia
- Difficulty with everyday tasks. Even tasks that the person performs every day begin to feel difficult, and they may not be able to complete them.
- Time and place confusion. Those living with Alzheimer’s can lose track of where they are, how they got there or how long they’ve been there as well as forgetting dates and seasons.
- Developing vision issues. If your loved one is having difficulty with balance or judging distance, they may be suffering from vision issues, an early sign of Alzheimer’s.
- Memory loss. Forgetting new information is one of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s. Some commonalities are forgetting events or dates, relying on others for information and repeating questions.
- Difficulty with problem solving. An occasional error is not uncommon, but people with dementia will have more frequent difficultly with developing and following plans or working through problems.
- Reading, writing and language difficulties. Alzheimer’s affects the brain’s ability to organize thoughts. This means that those with this form of dementia will have a harder time with logical thinking, reading and writing.
- Poor judgement. Alzheimer’s can lead to poor decision or judgement such as misunderstanding when to use appropriate language or mishandling money.
- Frequently losing items. Many of us misplace items occasionally but losing them with more frequency and being unable to retrace your steps can be an early sign of dementia development.
- Less connection with loved ones. The ability to converse in their normal manner may affect those with dementia, leading them to participate socially less frequently.
- Personality and mood changes. A person with dementia may begin to display moods that they didn’t typically show before. Look for a growth in confusion, suspicion, depression, fearfulness or anxiety.
Learn More about Wellness Opportunities at Crestwood Manor
At Crestwood Manor, we believe a holistic approach to wellness will help you live your happiest, healthiest life. This belief has led to the development of our award-winning LivWell program which encourages residents to take part in the eight dimensions of wellness, including brain health. To support brain health opportunities, we offer nutritious dining, engaging activities and relationship building opportunities.
To learn more about Crestwood Manor’s healthy lifestyle, contact our team today.