Most of us have forgotten where we left our car keys or have struggled to remember an acquaintance’s name at a party. But how can you distinguish between forgetfulness and a more serious condition such as Alzheimer’s Disease?

For the 5.3 million Americans with this progressive and fatal brain disease, episodes like this happen every day. “As we get older, all of us experience some slowing down of the brain,” says Rajeev Kumar, MD, FACP, a geriatrician with Adventist Hinsdale and Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospitals. “But in patients with Alzheimer’s Disease, this happens much faster.”

Are you at risk?
Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia and causes irreversible loss of brain function and capacity. Because Alzheimer’s Disease progressively destroys brain cells, patients start to experience memory loss and difficulty with problem solving that can affect every facet of their lives. Although doctors are unclear on why some people develop this disease and not others, there are a few known risk factors, including:

• Age – Most people with Alzheimer’s are older than 65. After age 55, the risk for developing this disease doubles every five years. By age 85, the risk of developing Alzheimer’s is nearly 50 percent.
   
• Family history – Having a parent or sibling with Alzheimer’s puts you and family members at an increased risk.
   
• Genetics – Scientists have identified an Alzheimer risk gene called apolipoprotein E-e4. In addition to increasing someone’s risk, this gene may also make symptoms appear earlier.

To lower your or a family member’s risk, Dr. Kumar suggests simple changes like stimulating the brain with game shows or crossword puzzles, exercising and eating a Mediterranean diet. “Anything that you can do to improve your cardiac and vascular health will also help lower your risk for Alzheimer’s Disease,” he says.

Learn how a healthy diet can potentially lower the risk for Alzheimer’s here.

The 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are 10 warning signs you and your loved ones should watch out for. This includes:

1. Memory loss that affects everyday life
2. Difficulty in problem solving or planning
3. Trouble completing familiar tasks
4. Confusion with time or location
5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
6. Trouble communicating via speech or on paper
7. Misplacing things
8. Having poor judgment
9. Withdrawing from social or work activities
10. Changes in mood or personality

“If you or a family member is experiencing these symptoms, it’s not a normal part of aging,” Dr. Kumar says. “The earlier you talk to a geriatrician, the better.”

Quicker treatment for better outcomes
Older adults who come to Adventist Midwest Geriatric Specialists are automatically given a comprehensive geriatric assessment on their first visit. Physicians will assess the patient’s memory and cognition, behavior and functional status. Patients can also receive a dedicated Alzheimer’s assessment.

Although there is no cure, patients can find leading-edge treatments at Adventist Midwest Health that can delay the progression of Alzheimer’s. “The goal of treatment is to keep patients living independently for as long as possible,” Dr. Kumar says. “We want to change the course of the disease so it doesn’t progress too rapidly.”

For more information or to find a physician, call us at 866-533-7968.