“Sign, sign
Everywhere a sign
Blockin’ out the scenery
Breakin’ my mind
Do this, don’t do that
Can’t you read the sign?” ~ Five Man Electric Band
Changing the Status Quo
Alzheimer’s impacts so many in the US (an estimated 6.5 Million in the US by 2022).
Understanding some of the warning signs is essential as it is a disease that does not just happen overnight but over time, even a decade.
Below you will find 5 of the most important warning to be on the lookout for, as well as how you can keep your brain healthy to help avoid it.
Many of these signs might be “naturally” occurring due to age, but we at Tiger Medical don’t believe that has to be the case for everyone as we age.
Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign
1. Memory Loss that Disrupts Daily Life
Examples of this can be forgetting about recently scheduled dates, doctor’s appointments, etc.
2. Difficulty Performing “Normal” Tasks
This can be about having trouble using the oven, microwave, or other household items that usually do not present any difficulty.
3. Recognition of a Familiar Face but Trouble with Name Recall
This is pretty explanatory, but often as we age, this is one of the most common “normal” aging symptoms experienced.
Many report seeing a familiar face but cannot pinpoint exactly what their name is. Knowing where they are from is also challenging.
4. Forgetting Common Items and Being Unable to Retrace Steps
This warning sign is when you notice that you misplace your keys, phone, wallet, etc., increasingly more and more. Through this, there is difficulty in remembering how they became misplaced and where to find them.
Another thing to note is that if you do find these items, they can be found in really odd places.
5. General Confusion with Time and Location
If you forget how you got somewhere or how to get back home, that can be a warning sign of memory issues—pivoting from the first point, not only confusion with location but also confusion with time and date.
Often forgetting what day it is or having that repeated back to you multiple times can be a sign of Alzheimer’s.
What to Do to Help Prevent Alzheimer’s?
Check out some of our other articles for more prescriptive information on how to help prevent cognitive decline.
With that being said, the most significant thing one can do to get ahead of this issue is early testing.
We suggest finding a functional health provider who can test different biomarkers relating to cognitive decline and provide validated cognitive screening to help asses what stage you might be in.
Getting the proper testing and tweaking lifestyle factors for greater well-being are significant steps to keep your brain in the game.
To talk to one of our professionals, click here to schedule your call!
For further reading, view the following articles on our learning center:
6min to read
10min to read
6min to read