Yesterday we shared with you the incredible story of a new study that, for the first time ever, documented a way to actually reverse the effects of memory loss. It's an elaborate, overly complex way, to be sure, and given the small size of the sample population it may not be applicable across a wider group of people — but it's a step in the right direction nonetheless!
Despite this promising sign, though, it doesn't address the over 5 million Americans are struggling with Alzheimer's disease right now. Alzheimer's is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. On average, a new patient develops the disease every 67 seconds, according to data from the Alzheimer's Association. While there is treatment that can help abate the effects of symptoms presented by Alzheimer's, there is no cure for this mentally debilitating condition, making it all the more important to keep an eye out for the warning signs.
Whether you have an elderly loved one or you're of that age yourself, here are a few of the known indicators of memory loss and the onset of Alzheimer's disease, courtesy of The Huffington Post:
- Age: Perhaps the most obvious one, but there's a reason for that. Starting at age 65, the risk of Alzheimer's doubles every five years. By 85-years-old, your chances of developing Alzheimer's hovers around a 50 percent likelihood. This is not to say that memory loss and aging are mutually inclusive — getting older doesn't necessarily mean your memory support will have to start failing. But given the increasingly high risk involved, it's important not to simply dismiss forgetfulness as just a regular aging characteristic.
- Depression: Both depression and dementia reduce the mind's ability to focus, making it difficult to tell the two conditions apart. If you have an elderly relative that frequently seems sad or unable to concentrate, have them see a doctor who may then refer them to therapy. If it's depression, therapy and prescribed medications can improve their quality of life. If these fail to make a difference, then the problem may be Alzheimer's instead.
- "Senior moments": It's not uncommon, and not necessarily a red flag, if an older person forgets somebody's name from time to time. But if their senior moments extend to having difficulty recognizing well-known people — whether celebrities or their own families — or can't process what day or season it currently is, there may be a more complex and dangerous issue at play.
The earlier you can identify the warning signs of Alzheimer's disease and dementia, the sooner you can take measures to improve brain health.
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