10 Differences Between Alzheimer's and Natural Aging
Our memory capacity changes as we get older, but memory loss that adversely affects everyday life is not an ordinary sign of aging and may actually be a symptom of the onset of dementia. This phenomenon causes a slow deterioration of memory, reasoning, and logic, with the most common type known as "Alzheimer's" - a serious disease that disrupts the functioning of brain cells and even stops their activity.
So how can you tell whether the source of memory problems is the natural aging process or the development of dementia when signs appear that may indicate both? Using the information in the next article you will be able to distinguish between a situation that requires attention and natural processes that affect everyone.
What is the difference between natural
aging and Alzheimer's?
We all know that as we get older, our brain and body become weaker. In a
natural aging process, it means that we may experience a slowdown in
thinking and movement, but our intelligence is not be affected. On the
other hand, in the case of Alzheimer's disease, damage to nerve cells in
the brain will cause memory changes to worsen as more cells are
damaged. Although it is possible to develop Alzheimer's at the age of
30, 40 and 50, in most cases it affects people aged 65 and over.
Changes in memory caused by old age will be related to the names of
people or places, but changes caused by Alzheimer’s are expressed
through forgetfulness that severely affects one’s ability to work and
even engage in a social life and hobbies. It is recommended that you
familiarize yourself with the following 10 sections to help you
determine whether what you’re experiencing is a natural aging process or
the development of Alzheimer's disease. If you notice these signs in
your parents or even in yourself, it is recommended that you see your
doctor to confirm or refute your concerns.
1. Memory loss that interferes with
everyday life
One of the most common signs of Alzheimer's, especially in the early
stages of the disease, is the forgetting of recently learned
information. Other signs include forgetting important dates or events,
repeating the same question, again and again, relying heavily on memory
aids (e.g. notes) or family members for things that one would normally
be able to take care of themselves until recently.
Age-Related Changes:
If occasionally you or your parents forget or miss a meeting, but you
remember it after some time, it's a sign that it's just old age and not
Alzheimer's. As long as the memory problem does not interfere with your
normal functioning and doesn’t makes you forget many things and feel
confused, you don’t have to worry too much.
2. Difficulty in planning ahead or solving
problems
Some people with Alzheimer's sometimes feel a change in their ability to
plan and follow clear instructions, especially when working with
numbers. For example, they find it difficult to cook using recipes or
keep track of monthly bills. In addition, many also suffer from
concentration difficulties and take a long time to do things that they
previously performed in a shorter time.
Age-Related Changes:
If you or your parents make mistakes in calculating your bills from time
to time, this is not a sign of Alzheimer's disease, but simply a lack
of attention from the aging process. This is natural, and if you go over
the numbers again you’ll probably notice your mistakes.
3. Difficulty completing tasks at home, at
work, or even at leisure
People with Alzheimer's often have difficulty completing simple daily
tasks. They may have difficulty traveling to a place they've traveled to
dozens of times before, working with numbers or even keeping track of
the rules of a favorite game.
Age-Related Changes:
If you or your parents occasionally need help getting their TV to work,
or fixing a computer or smartphone problem, it is not necessarily a sign
of Alzheimer's, but simply a difficulty working with constantly
changing technology, which is hard even for a person who doesn’t have
Alzheimer's.
4. Confusion about time and place
People with Alzheimer's can completely forget today's date, what day it
was yesterday, and even what season of the year we are in. In addition,
they may have difficulty in understanding processes that aren’t taking
place immediately and sometimes even forget where they are going, where
they are, and how they got there.
Age-Related Changes:
If you or your parents forget which day of the week it is, but then
remember at some point, it's a sign of old age and not Alzheimer's. Keep
in mind that sometimes even young people forget the day and date, and
the reasons sometimes include a lack of weekly routine. This may be
caused, for example, by retirement and losing the sense of the weekend
compared to the rest of the week.
5. Difficulties in vision and understanding of images and spatial
relations
For some people, vision problems are a sign of Alzheimer's. These people
will have difficulty reading, measuring distances, or noticing the
differences between certain shades or colors. In addition, they may
suffer from problems in spatial perception, such as not recognizing
themselves when they pass a mirror, leading to them thinking someone is
in the room with them.
Age-Related Changes:
It is known that vision is impaired by aging and therefore blurred
vision is not necessarily an early sign of Alzheimer's disease. In
addition, a problem with vision can be related to other diseases, such
as cataracts or diabetes, so once you notice these changes, you should
consult your doctor to rule out the variety of possible problems.
6. Development of difficulties in using
words orally and in writing
People with Alzheimer's may find it difficult to join a conversation,
stop talking in the middle of a conversation, lose their thread of
thought while talking, and repeat themselves several times without
noticing. They can also experience difficulty using rich vocabulary or
even finding the right name for objects and people they are familiar
with. This includes calling their children or their friends by incorrect
names.
Age-Related Changes:
If you or your parents find it difficult to find the right word for what
you want to say, it does not necessarily indicate the development of
Alzheimer's disease. Aging causes many brain processes to slow down and
memory itself no longer functions as it did in the past. As long as you
don’t confuse words and call things by a name that does not belong to
them, such a memory problem is not necessarily a sign of Alzheimer's
disease.
7. Misplacing things and inability to retrace steps
A person with Alzheimer's is able to place objects in places they don’t
belong without noticing, and often lose objects and fail to retrace the
steps they took to help them find them. Sometimes Alzheimer's patients
may even blame another person for stealing and as the years go by and
the disease worsens, this may occur more frequently.
Age-Related Changes:
If you or your parents find it difficult to remember from time to time
where you’ve put your glasses or the remote control, it’s not
necessarily a sign of Alzheimer's disease. It is possible that these are
problems that you’ve already dealt with in the past and are exacerbated
only by old age. As long as this is not an unreasonable case, such as
leaving your shoes in the refrigerator, there is no reason to worry
much.
8. Poor judgment and difficulty in making decisions
People with Alzheimer's may feel a change in their judgment or
decision-making abilities. For example, they may make poor decisions
about money, being quick to hand out large amounts of money to
telemarketers. In addition, they may pay less attention to cleanliness
and grooming.
Age-Related Changes:
Making wrong decisions from time to time does not necessarily mean you
have Alzheimer's disease. Telemarketers are often professionals who know
how to "milk money" by using emotions rather than turning to logic. So
even in this case, as long as you or your parents can still say "no
thanks" and know that you don’t need a product that is being sold, you
have no reason for concern.
9. Avoiding social activities or work
People with Alzheimer's may stop engaging in past hobbies and avoid
social gatherings and anything related to work. They may even stop
loving watching football because they aren’t able to follow their
favorite team. The reason for these changes is the perception of all the
difficulties that accompany them, which makes them realize that
something is wrong with them and that they can’t function as they did in
the past.
Age-Related Changes:
If you or your parents feel exhausted from work or you want to avoid
social interaction, it is not necessarily a sign that Alzheimer's
disease is involved. Exhaustion at an older age from work you’ve taken
part in over many years makes sense, and avoiding contact with friends,
especially when you feel obligated, is only a sign that your body and
mind need some rest.
10. Changes in mood and personality
People with Alzheimer's may become completely different people and
respond to situations differently than they would normally. They may be
confused, suspicious, depressed, anxious or stressed. It may also be
easy for them to succumb to sadness in the home and work environment, or
experience depression while they are outside their comfort zone.
Age-Related Changes:
If you or your parents feel nervous or insecure after a change someone
or something creates in the routine you have created for yourself, it
only means that you have adapted your own ways of doing things and are
not ready to change them at this point in your life. Changes in routine
at an older age would irritate and disturb anyone, so it is not
necessarily a sign of Alzheimer's disease. Note that mood swings can
also be signs of other illnesses, so you may want to check with your GP.
A few words to finish...
Distinguishing between natural aging processes and Alzheimer's may
sometimes be difficult, but if you or your parents experience some of
the symptoms that are not age-related changes, you should consult your
doctor for proper testing and treatment. It is also important to note
that any such radical change alone may indicate other diseases, and
therefore it is recommended not to rush to think that you might have
Alzheimer's but to consult a doctor for a professional opinion.
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