Symptoms and diagnosis of alzheimers

Alzheimers symptom

At its onset, Alzheimer's disease is marked by simple forgetfulness, especially of recent events or directions to familiar places. People with Alzheimer's may have personality changes, such as poor impulse control and judgment, distrust, increased stubbornness, and restlessness.



The next stage of the disease is characterized by greater difficulty in doing things that require planning, decision-making, and judgment -- for example, working, balancing a checkbook, or driving a car. Everyday skills such as personal grooming aren't affected, but social withdrawal begins.



Eventually, people with Alzheimer's disease can't do simple tasks of daily living such as eating, bathing, and using the toilet. They may lack interest in personal hygiene and appearance, and lose their usual sexual inhibitions. They may have a hard time recognizing all but their closest daily companions. Communication of all kinds becomes difficult as written and spoken language ability dwindles. Withdrawal from family members begins and the person may become agitated, displaying belligerence and a denial of the illness.



In the last stages of the disease, people with Alzheimer's become bedridden, unable to recognize themselves or their closest family members. They may make small, purposeless movements and communicate only by screaming out occasionally. Essentially, the brain forgets how to live. Death often results from pneumonia and from complications of immobility.



Currently, doctors can't diagnose Alzheimer's disease with 100% certainty until a brain autopsy after the person's death reveals the disease's markers: abnormal clumps and irregular knots of brain cells. So diagnosis of Alzheimer's rests largely on the judgment of physicians experienced in dealing with dementing illnesses. But that judgment has become quite sophisticated. Experts estimate current diagnostic accuracy at around 90%.

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