Can anyone tell me how I know if someone is developing alzheimers or if the just have a really bad memory?

Question

Serious answers only please, I'm quite worried about someone.

Answer 1

Not really - symptoms like confusion, poor memory etc can just be signs of old age and tiredness and not serious, or they can also be indicators of something more severe such as Alzheimer's or Senile Dementia - really the only way to be sure is to get a GP to refer the person to a specialist, and even then it wont necessarily be easy to diagnose for a while. You will of course have to get this person to see that they have a problem and go to their GP - go gently and just be as supportive as possible, they very well may not want to accept that anything is wrong. There really is no way to tell by yourself.

Good luck, and it is fab that you care so much.

Answer 2

My aunt has alzheimer's... The bad memory is usually accompanied by really bad mood swings, things that are really out of character... Plus high irritability- you know, they don't like being touched or fussed over. If you're still not sure there's loads of literature on the subject. Apart from the internet, there should be leaflets in your GP's surgery.

Hope that helps. I really hope it isn't Alzheimer's. Good luck.

Answer 3

Contact you local mental health team. Ask for the number of the Elderly Service. They will give you information on what to do next. You can see if they run a memory clinic. You may need a referral from you GP. The Alzheimer's Society have some great information packs you can contact your local group for help and advise, get the number from you GP or local hospital.

Answer 4

There is actually a test you can do, but it's usually at the doctors. You might find it on the internet. Try the Alzheimer's Disease Society website if you are trying to do some research. My Grandmother has had it for 10 years and is still going strong.

Good luck to you.

www.alzheimers.org.uk

Answer 5

Usually people in the early stages of alzheimers have short term memory loss, they can remember things that happened years ago, can remember their childhood and their children growing up, but maybe cannot remember what they ate for dinner 20 mins ago. My mother used to put a pan of milk to heat and forget it, in the later stages she didn't know who we were, she would call me by my sisters name. even after my Dad died, she would be looking out of the window and when we asked what she was looking for, she would tell us she was looking for Dad and that he had gone to buy a paper. It is really sad.

Answer 6

they will need to go to there gp and ask for a referral to the elderly services....

yes there are some tools that doctors use to judge how much the person and remember and keep track on their progress whilst on medication, as some medication will be needed depending on the results....

the earlier someone gets medication for alzheimer/dementia the slower the decline will be.....

Answer 7

well forgetting things is normal, but it isn't normal to forget the name of your relatives or where u live, then it becomes more then a simply bad memory. If u r really worried and u notice that the person u r talking about forgets too often and important things u should really go to a doctor until is not too late and she/he harms herself/himself.

Answer 8

If you can find a good doctor,they will do test on you to see if you have it.I had a sister and mother I am sure had it but the doctors didnt tell us about it.We could have treated them better if we would have been told.I hope I dont hs it.I am reading everything I can about it.My sister and mom are dead now.Thats all signed Free LIttle Lillie

Answer 9

The most striking early symptom is short term memory loss (amnesia), which usually manifests as minor forgetfulness that becomes steadily more pronounced with illness progression, with relative preservation of older memories. As the disorder progresses, cognitive (intellectual) impairment extends to the domains of language (aphasia), skilled movements (apraxia), recognition (agnosia), and those functions (such as decision-making and planning) closely related to the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain as they become disconnected from the limbic system, reflecting extension of the underlying pathological process

Answer 10

going in back in to past a lot not knowing who our prime minister is and the date and there age name etc if you truly think its Alzheimer's see dr ASAP