4 Answers

My OL is convinced that I have Alzheimers. She has tested her hypotheses by repeatedly interrupting me when I am busy to see how long it takes me to get back on task and her evidence is irrefutable proof, in her mind, that I have lost it. No argument to the contrary need to be raised.    

Alzheimers can only be diagnosed with certainty after death when the brain can be examined, but there are signs which can be significant;

1. difficulty in using the telephone 2. refusal to drive or use public transport 3. can't fill in a cheque, 4 forgetting  to take medication 5. forgetting recent events 6. difficulty with speech. 7 loss of sense of humour.

Alzheimer can be extremely difficult to recognise. Once a lady came with her husband - looked so fine - lovely hairdo and makeup and well dressed looked like Bette Davis.. There is a test for this which I went through with her as I felt there was something a miss - Asked all the usual questions which she answered in a vague way and finally asked her where she lived - she looked at her husband for help and he said answer the question - she had no idea. Only he knew I guess how bad her memory etc. had got hidden from the world and professional staff. Once visited a barrister whose wife had her legs in her cardigan sleeves - he had looked after his wife suffering with Alzheimers for three years withou any help  - yes the landed Gentry living in retired quarter for Judges and barristers at The Middle Temple in London.

Alkzheimer-type dementia is due to a degenerative process with loss of brain cells from the basal forebrain, cerebral cortex and other brain areas and can progress to dementia Ten years ago one million Americans( do not know what the figures are today or in fact in the UK) were incapacitated by dementia, which occurs at any age and can follow any severe injury, severe enough to impose widespread damage to certain parts of the brain.This is highly complicated - my neighbour has very severe Alzheimer disease and it progressed over twelve years, she is now eighty four - she became somewhat agressive and here in Britain antiphychotic drugs were given to these patients and this hastened her disease process - This anti-psychotic drug is not allowed to be given to patient's with dementia or Alkzheimers disease anymore. She gets carers three times a day and has a great family support - although she seems to be on another planet. I speak with her and she responds to one thing she will put out her tongue if I ask her and her body language looks like she is somewhat aware and listening. So important to talk with these patients even show them photographs and read to them so very hard for the families of these patients - even a dead person when laying them out if you speak who knows they may be able to hear you as you describe what you are doing.   We all with this memory thing we are getting Alkheimers but most of this can just be ageing process in varying degrees.             

Forgetfulness is one sign though you start losing you memory when you start middle age  your best thing to do is go on the web site and go on a site with Alzeimers and they will point you in the rght direction or go to the Doctors there are test that give you good luck